Alpha-linolenic acid, anti-oxidants and the growth of the breast tumours | Acide alpha-linolenique, anti-oxydants et croissance tumorale mammaire
2000
Chajes, V. (Universite de Tours (France). Laboratoire de Biologie des Tumeurs) | Cognault, S. | Maillard, V. | Pinault, M. | Jourdan, M.L. | Lhuillery, C. | Bougnoux, P.
International variation in breast cancer incidence rates and the changes in incidence among migrant populations have indicated that breast cancer risk is influenced by environmental factors, in particular diet, and is therefore preventable. Data derived from animal experiments generally showed that diets high in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) inhibit mammary tumor growth and metastasis. Limited data is available on the relation of estimated dietary intake of n-3 PUFA to risk of breast cancer. We confronted adipose tissue fatty acid composition, as a reflect of long-term qualitative dietary intake of fatty acids, to the risk of metastasis in patients treated for breast cancer and we reported an inverse association between level of alpha-linolenic acid, essential fatty acid, and the development of metastasis, suggesting a protective effect of alpha-linolenic acid in the evolution of breast cancer. In two independent case-control studies conducted in women treated for breast tumours, an inverse association between alpha-linolenic acid in adipose fat and breast cancer risk was found, suggesting a protective effect of this fatty acid in the risk of the disease. In experiments performed in a model of chemically-induced rat mammary tumors, we examined the role of alpha-linolenic acid and peroxidation processes on mammary tumor growth. Tumor growth was increased by a 15 % linseed oil diet, ricin in alpha-linolenic, in presence of antioxidant (vitamin E) while was decreased by alpha-linolenic acid in presence of a pro-oxidant system. These data show that the effect of alpha-linolenic acid on tumor growth is highly dependent on diet oxidative status. Further epidemiological and experimental studies are needed in order to identify the interaction of n-3 PUFA with anti- and pro-oxidative vitamins in the risk of breast cancer
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