Ovarian Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ovarian Cancer, including details on symptoms, causes, treatment, information.

The effects of Omega-3 fatty acids on growth regulation of epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines.

Sharma A, Belna J, Logan J, Espat J, Hurteau JA

Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago, 820 South Wood Street (MC 808), Chicago, IL 60612-7313, USA.

OBJECTIVE: Omega-3 fatty acids (OM-3FAs) have been shown to possess anti-carcinogenic properties. We investigated the effect of OM-3FAs on epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines to determine if a growth suppressive effect existed and to gain a better insight on the potential molecular mechanisms that may be involved. METHODS: Three epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV-3 [p53 null], TOV-21G [wt p53] and OVCAR-3 [mutant p53]) and one immortalized ovarian surface epithelial cell line (IOSE-29 [wt p53]) were treated with OM-3FAs and evaluated for cellular proliferation (WST-1 assay), apoptosis (Annexin V-FITC/PI method) and VEGF expression (VEGF ELISA assay). RESULTS: A statistically significant inhibitory effect under the influence of OM-3FAs was detected in all four cell lines. Apoptosis and VEGF down-regulation were either limited or not detected in the p53 null and mutant cell lines, SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 respectively. Apoptosis and/or VEGF down-regulation was strongly evident in the wt p53 cell lines TOV-21G and IOSE-29. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that, under the influence of OM-3FAs, there are definitive growth suppressive mechanisms at work and that the biologic effects of OM-3FAs may in part be mediated by the p53 status.

Published 26 September 2005 in Gynecol Oncol, 99(1): 58-64.
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