title: Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1, a novel target of omega-3 fatty acids for reducing breast cancer risk in obese postmenopausal women.
abstract: Conversion of saturated fatty acids to monounsaturated fatty acids by the enzyme stearoyl-Co-A-desaturase (SCD-1) is emerging as a major factor in promoting carcinogenesis including breast cancer. The aim of our study was to explore the regulation of SCD-1 by Raloxifene and omega-3 fatty acids in women at increased risk of breast cancer based on high breast density.
  
  
  
  As a reflection of SCD-1 activity, we measured the ratios of palmitoleic acid (C16:1n7) to palmitic acid (C16:0) (SCD-16) and oleic acid (C18:1n9) to steric acid (C18:0) (SCD-18) in plasma samples of postmenopausal women enrolled in our clinical trial (NCT00723398) designed to test the effects of the antiestrogen, Raloxifene and/or the omega-3 preparation Lovaza, on breast density, a validated biomarker of breast cancer risk.
  
  
  
  We report that Lovaza but not Raloxifene-reduced SCD-16 and SCD-18 for the 2-year duration of the trial. Importantly, decreasing levels of SCD-16 and SCD-18 were associated with a progressive reduction in breast density but only in obese women (body mass index ⩾30).
  
  
  
  Body mass index-related factors play an important role in the reduction of breast density and hence breast cancer risk by omega-3 fatty acids. SCD-1 may be a useful biomarker in future clinical trials testing the benefit of nutritional interventions in reducing obesity-associated breast cancer risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manni
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Richie
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Schetter
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calcagnotto
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Trushin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aliaga
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: El-Bayoumy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D000071060:Breast Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D017698:Postmenopause; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004338:Drug Combinations; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; C008757:palmitoleic acid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D019301:Oleic Acid; D019308:Palmitic Acid; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; C405603:Omacor; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase