title: A potential role of PUFAs and COXIBs in cancer chemoprevention.
abstract: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly the ω-3 PUFAs and COXIBs have been associated with decreased inflammation and the prevention of tumorigenesis. ω-3 PUFAs have shown to display multiple antitumour actions, while ω-6 PUFAs and its derived eicosanoids promote the effects in cancer cell growth, angiogenesis, and invasion. ω-3 PUFAs may act by suppressing the metabolism of arachidonic acid to form proinflammatory mediators or as a precursors of novel lipid mediators with pro-resolving activity, while COXIBs are able to modulate inflammatory response by inhibiting cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), an inducible prostaglandin synthase overexpressed in several human cancers. As recently has been postulated, the anti-inflammation and pro-resolution processes are not equivalent. A family of lipid mediators from ω-3 PUFAs can act as agonist promoting resolution, while antinflammatory agents such as COXIBs may act as antagonists limiting the inflammatory response. The present paper reviews the current knowledge about the role of PUFAs and its derivatives (metabolites), as well as the COXIBs activity in cancer process as a sinergic therapeutic alternative for cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Largo E. Meneghetti 2, 35131 Padua, Italy. Electronic address: marianela.varamessler@studenti.unipd.it.
authors.forename: Marianela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vara-Messler
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: carola.buccellati@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buccellati
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Education and Sports, Director of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Rruga e Durresit, Nr 23, Tirana, Albania. Electronic address: linda.pustina@arsimi.gov.al.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pustina
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: giancarlo.folco@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Folco
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: genrico.rovati@unimi.it.
authors.forename: G Enrico
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Rovati
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: malvina.hoxha@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Malvina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoxha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods*; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
keywords: COXIBs; Cancer; Polyunsaturated fatty acids