Polyunsaturated fatty acids trigger apoptosis of colon cancer cells through a mitochondrial pathway.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Colorectal cancer is common in developed countries. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been reported to possess tumoricidal action, but the exact mechanism of their action is not clear.

Material and methods

In the present study, we studied the effect of various n-6 and n-3 fatty acids on the survival of the colon cancer cells LoVo and RKO and evaluated the possible involvement of a mitochondrial pathway in their ability to induce apoptosis.

Results

It was observed that n-3 α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (ALA, EPA and DHA respectively) and n-6 linoleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid (LA, GLA and AA respectively) induced apoptosis of the colon cancer cells LoVo and RKO at concentrations above 120 μM (

SUBMITTER: Zhang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4624753 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature