title: Effect of PUFAs Oral Administration on the Amount of Apoptotic Caspases Enzymes in Gastric Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the second cause of death in the world. According to the studies, the gastric cancer is relatively sensitive to chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of oral administer PUFAs with Caspase enzymes in patients with gastric cancer under chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a Clinical Trial in which the target group consisted of the patients recognized with gastric cancer for the first time and cured under chemotherapy. Thirty-four patients were selected and categorized randomly into two groups. The case group included the patients taking PUFAs along with chemotherapeutic agent. In these patients, chemotherapy started with Cis-Platin plus PUFAs supplement in the scale of 3600 mg daily and in three courses. In control group, the individuals were under the same chemotherapy protocol without PUFAs. Biopsy samples from tumor were taken from the patients before and after chemotherapy. Levels of mRNA and protein expression of caspase 3, 8, 9 were measured in biopsy samples by Real-Time PCR and Frozen Section methods. The levels of apoptosis were determined using DNA-damage colorimetric assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the case group, caspase 3 showed a significant increase in both gene and protein expression levels after administration of PUFAs supplement in comparison with those of the control group (p=0.006 for gene, p=0.001 for protein). PUFAs induced caspase-9 gene expression level in these patients (p<0.0001). Caspase-9 protein level also revealed a marked elevation when PUFAs were administered along with chemotherapeutic agent (p<0.0001). DNA damage in gastric tissue from the patients under PUFAs treatment plus Cis-Platin was significantly higher than that of control group (p=0.003). PUFAs showed no significant changes in caspase-8 both at the gene and protein levels in the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results of present study, it appears that oral administration of PUFAs can elevate the efficacy of chemotherapy agent in individuals' mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. As PUFAs enhances caspase-3 and 9 genes expression levels, which is an important induce the mitochondrial dependent apoptosis process. The study was registered in Iran clinical trials registry center under No. IRCT2014031016922N1.
authors.forename: Homayun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dolatkhah
authors.affiliation: Clinical Biochemistry, PhD, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutics Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, I. R. Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Movahedian
authors.forename: Mohammad-Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Somi
authors.forename: Mahmud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aghaei
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Samadi
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mirza-Aghazade
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esfahani
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics; D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000235:genetics; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000235:genetics; D020169:Caspases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D053148:Caspase 3; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases