Marine polyunsaturated fatty acids and cancer therapy

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) derived from marine sources, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are widely consumed as supplements within the community. However, the use of marine PUFAs in a therapeutic context is also increasing in patients receiving treatment...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of cancer 2013-02, Vol.108 (3), p.486-492
Main Authors: Vaughan, V C, Hassing, M-R, Lewandowski, P A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
692/699/67/1059/99
692/700/459/1994
Angiogenesis
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Cancer Research
Cancer therapies
Chemotherapy
Diet
Drug Resistance
Epidemiology
Fatty acids
Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - administration & dosage
Fish Oils - administration & dosage
Humans
Liver cancer
Medical research
Medical sciences
mini-review
Minireview
Molecular Medicine
Neoplasms - prevention & control
Nutrition research
Oncology
Prevention
Tumors
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Summary:Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) derived from marine sources, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are widely consumed as supplements within the community. However, the use of marine PUFAs in a therapeutic context is also increasing in patients receiving treatment for a range of cancer types. On balance, the literature suggests that marine PUFAs have potential as an effective adjuvant to chemotherapy treatment, may have direct anticancer effects, and may help ameliorate some of the secondary complications associated with cancer. Although a range of doses have been trialled, it would appear that supplementation of fish oil (>3 g per day) or EPA/DHA (>1 g EPA and >0.8 g DHA per day) is associated with positive clinical outcomes. However, further research is still required to determine the mechanisms via which marine PUFAs are mediating their effects. This review summarises our current understanding of marine PUFAs and cancer therapy.
ISSN:0007-0920
1532-1827
DOI:10.1038/bjc.2012.586