title: Omega-3 fatty acids in cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Significant achievements have been obtained in cancer treatment, but the clinical relevance of drug approach in daily practice remains questionable due to the high costs, limited efficacy, and negligible influence on quality of life. A new concept is emerging which is based on the early combination of chemotherapy and nutrition therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inflammation dictates tumour initiation, progression and growth. Omega-3 fatty acids exert anti-inflammatory effects, and therefore recent studies investigated their role in cancer prevention, in cancer cachexia treatment and in enhancement of antitumour therapies. Limited evidence suggests a role for omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in cancer prevention, but they have been shown to preserve muscle mass and function in cancer patients even during active treatment. During chemotherapy, omega-3 fatty acids may contribute to a reduced inflammatory response, but whether cancer treatment toxicity can be prevented remains to be assessed. Finally, small studies showed that omega-3 fatty acids increase response rate to chemotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combination of chemotherapy and omega-3 supplementation appears an effective strategy to enhance the clinical outcome of cancer patients in their curative and palliative clinical trajectory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. alessandro.laviano@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laviano
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rianda
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molfino
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi Fanelli
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002100:Cachexia / Q000188:drug therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3