Omega-6 promotes prostate tumors

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 01, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- A San Francisco medical center study has demonstrated omega-6 fatty acids promote the growth of prostate tumor cells in the laboratory.

The study was led by Millie Hughes-Fulford, director of the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center's Laboratory of Cell Growth, and scientific adviser to the U.S. Undersecretary of Health for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Hughes-Fulford and her team identified for the first time a direct chain of causation: When introduced into human prostate tumor cells in culture, omega-6 fatty acid causes the production of cPLA2, which then causes the production of the enzyme COX2. In turn, COX2 stimulates the release of PGE2, a hormone-like molecule that promotes cell growth.

"What's important about this is that omega-6 fatty acids are found in corn oil and most of the oils used in bakery goods," said Hughes-Fulford. "Which means that if you're eating a diet high in omega-6 fatty acids, it's possible that you're turning on this cancer cascade, which has been shown to be a common denominator in the growth of prostate, colorectal, and some breast cancers."

The study appears in the September issue of Carcinogenesis.