title: Associations of erythrocyte ω-3 fatty acids with biomarkers of ω-3 fatty acids and inflammation in breast tissue.
abstract: There is increasing evidence that chronic inflammation is associated with increased breast cancer risk. Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCω-3PUFA) may reduce circulating biomarkers of inflammation; however associations of blood LCω-3PUFA with breast tissue LCω-3PUFA and breast tissue biomarkers of inflammation are not well understood. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of breast tissue and blood samples from n = 85 women with no history of breast cancer, who underwent breast reduction surgery. Fatty acids of erythrocytes and undissected breast tissues were analyzed by gas chromatography; C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in plasma and tissue were measured by ELISA. Multivariable-adjusted regression models were used to estimate associations between erythrocyte LCω-3PUFA and breast tissue biomarkers. Women in the highest erythrocyte LCω-3PUFA tertile had LCω-3PUFA concentrations in the breast 73% (95% CI: 31-128%; p trend < 0.0001) higher than women in the lowest tertile. Associations for each individual LCω-3PUFA were similar in magnitude. No significant association was found for the shorter ω-3 PUFA, α-linolenic acid. Although compatible with no association, women in the highest tertile of erythrocyte eicosapentaenoic acid had a nonsignificant 32% (95% CI: -23 to 62%) reduced breast tissue CRP. No correlation was observed between erythrocyte ω-3 PUFA and tissue IL-6 or IL-8 concentrations. Our findings provide evidence that erythrocyte ω-3 fatty acids are valid measures of breast tissue concentrations, and limited evidence that inverse associations from prospective epidemiologic studies of blood LCω-3PUFA and breast cancer risk may be partly explained by reductions in breast tissue inflammation; however, these findings require replication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Shuvro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH.|The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Theodore M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Brasky
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH.|Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Martha A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Belury
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Shiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Rachel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH.|The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH.|Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania.
authors.forename: Catalin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marian
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH.|Department of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Lisa D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.affiliation: RBHS-School of Public Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.
authors.forename: Adana A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Llanos
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, The State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Public Health and Health Professions, Buffalo, NY.
authors.forename: Jo L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Freudenheim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH.|The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Shields
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D016462:Mammaplasty; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D018836:Inflammation Mediators
keywords: breast cancer; breast tissue; docosahexaenoic acid; eicosapentaenoic acid; inflammation; omega-3; omega-6