title: Reducing the burden of obesity-associated cancers with anti-inflammatory long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
abstract: Today's world population has an unprecedented risk of dying from the consequences of being overweight and obese. Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer are often accelerated because of excessive adiposity. Various biological mechanisms are implicated in the obesity-cancer link, particularly local and systemic inflammation as well as altered growth factor signaling pathways. In order to combat obesity-induced inflammation and the resulting increases in cancer risk and progression, the identification of safe and effective mechanism-based interventions is imperative. Notably, long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) modulate the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, prostaglandins and other inflammatory mediators, restore insulin sensitivity, and can prevent or delay tumorigenesis. Delineating the precise mechanisms by which omega-3 PUFAs suppress obesity-induced inflammation will help identify promising key mechanistic targets and intervention strategies to break the obesity-cancer link.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States. Electronic address: skhatib@live.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Subreen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khatib
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States. Electronic address: emilylro@live.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Emily L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States. Electronic address: lwbowers@email.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Laura W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Bowers
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States. Electronic address: hursting@email.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Hursting
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3
keywords: Cancer; Obesity; Omega-3 PUFAs