title: How plausible is the use of dietary n-3 PUFA in the adjuvant therapy of cancer?
abstract: Considerable debate exists regarding the potential antineoplastic effect of dietary long-chain n-3 PUFA contained in fatty fishes. Since the majority of published data has proven that their intake does not induce toxic or carcinogenic effects in humans, their possible preventive use against cancer has been suggested. On the other hand, it is unlikely that they could be effective in cancer patients as a single therapy. Nevertheless, a considerable effort has been put forth in recent years to evaluate the hypothesis that n-3 PUFA might improve the antineoplastic efficiency of currently used anticancer agents. The rationale for this therapeutic combinatory strategy is trying to increase cancer sensitivity to conventional therapies. This could allow the use of lower drug/radiation doses and, thereby, a reduction in the detrimental health effects associated with these treatments. We will here critically examine the studies that have investigated this possibility, by focusing particularly on the biological and molecular mechanisms underlying the antineoplastic effect of these combined treatments. A possible use of n-3 PUFA in combination with the innovative single-targeted anti-cancer therapies, that often are not completely devoid of dangerous side-effects, is also suggested.
authors.affiliation: 1Institute of General Pathology,Università Cattolica del S. Cuore,L.go F. Vito,1-00168 Rome,Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Serini
authors.affiliation: 2Institute of Biological Sciences,Federal University of Rio Grande,Avenida Itàlia,km 8,Campus Carreiros,Rio Grande/RS. 962011-900,Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ottes Vasconcelos
authors.affiliation: 1Institute of General Pathology,Università Cattolica del S. Cuore,L.go F. Vito,1-00168 Rome,Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fasano
authors.affiliation: 1Institute of General Pathology,Università Cattolica del S. Cuore,L.go F. Vito,1-00168 Rome,Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calviello
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy*; D017747:Seafood
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004041:Dietary Fats; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3
keywords:     n-3 PUFA; 5-FU 5-fluorouracil; AA arachidonic acid; ALA α-linolenic acid; Antineoplastic drugs; COX cyclo-oxygenase; Combinations; FA fatty acid; FO fish oil; Human trials; LC-n-3-PUFA long-chain n-3 PUFA; MDR multidrug resistance; NSCLC non-small cell lung cancer; PARP poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase; Preclinical studies; ROS reactive oxygen species; TRAIL TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand; i.v. intravenous