EFFECTS OF SATURATED AND POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS ON HUMAN TUMOR-CELL PROLIFERATION

1. Fatty acids of varying chain length and degree of unsaturation were found to inhibit the proliferation of T24/83, Hep2 and LLC-WRC256 tum or cell lines. 2. There was a strong correlation (r(2) = -0.956 to -0. 995) between the degree of inhibition of proliferation and the degree of unsaturation of 18-carbon fatty acids for all the cell lines studie d. No correlation existed in this respect for the 20-carbon fatty acid s. 3. Tumor cells can differentiate between the degree of unsaturation of the 18-carbon fatty acids, and this ability is ultimately manifest ed in the rate of proliferation; however, the mechanisms remain to be identified. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.