title: Abnormalities in fatty acids in plasma, erythrocytes and adipose tissue in Japanese patients with colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In previous animal studies, we confirmed that linoleic acid (LNA) enhanced colon carcinogenesis, whereas eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) had protective effects in azoxymethane-induced colon tumorigenesis. In regard to the protective effects of marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on colorectal cancer however, evidence from epidemiological studies is inconsistent.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study we investigated the fatty acid composition in plasma, red blood cells (RBCs) and adipose tissue from Japanese patients with colorectal cancer, or benign disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-one patients with histologically-confirmed colorectal cancer and 42 patients with non-malignant disease were recruited for this study. The fatty acid composition of the total phospholipid (PL) fraction of plasma and washed RBCs was determined by gas chromatography. The fatty acid composition of the triacylglycerol (TAG) fraction of subcutaneous adipose tissue was determined in a similar manner. The EPA proportion in the plasma and RBC PL fractions was significantly lower in patients with cancer than in the controls (p<0.05). Similarly, the LNA proportion in the RBC PL fraction was lower in patients with cancer, but no changes were found in the plasma PL fraction. Arachidonic acid was the only PUFA in the adipose TAG fraction that exhibited significant differences, with higher levels in the patients with cancer than in the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that patients with cancer have abnormalities in PUFAs in the plasma PL, erythrocyte PL, and adipose TAG fractions. Further investigation is needed to clarify the differences in the results between the various fractions.
authors: Division of Surgery, Takii Hospital of Kansai Medical University, 10-15 Fumizono, Moriguchi City, Osaka 570-8507, Japan.
authors: Masashi
authors: M
authors: Okuno
authors: Kei
authors: K
authors: Hamazaki
authors: Tokuhiro
authors: T
authors: Ogura
authors: Hiroaki
authors: H
authors: Kitade
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Matsuura
authors: Ryo
authors: R
authors: Yoshida
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Hijikawa
authors: Masanori
authors: M
authors: Kwon
authors: Seizaburo
authors: S
authors: Arita
authors: Miho
authors: M
authors: Itomura
authors: Tomohito
authors: T
authors: Hamazaki
authors: Hideho
authors: H
authors: Takada
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated