CHEMOPREVENTION OF DMBA INDUCED MAMMARY CARCINOGENESIS IN RATS BY LOW-DOSE EPA AND DHA

We investigated the effects of low-dose eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) an d docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the incidence and growth of 7,12-dimet hylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinoma in rats fed a hi gh-fat (HF) diet. We also examined the effects of these treatments on the fatty acid composition of tumour and serum. Tumour incidence was s ignificantly decreased by the administration of low-dose EPA and DHA, whereas their inhibitory effects on tumour growth did not reach signif icance. Serum arachidonic acid (AA) level was decreased by the adminis tration of low-dose EPA and tended to be decreased by the administrati on of low-dose DHA, whereas tumour AA levels were not changed. The adm inistration of low-dose EPA and DHA may be useful for inhibiting the i ncidence of breast cancer.