Concentration- and time-dependent effects of gamma-linolenic acid supplementation to tumor cells in culture

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) supplemented to neuroblastoma SK-N-BE, tubal car cinoma TG and colon carcinoma SW-620 cells was incorporated into phospholip ids in all the cell lines (although to different extents), in a concentrati on- and time-dependent manner. All the cell lines were able to metabolize G LA to arachidonic acid, SK-N-BE being the most active. Supplementation with low GLA concentrations for short periods was not sufficient to impair cell proliferation; only higher amounts of GLA had an anti-proliferative effect also in short times. In these conditions, the antiproliferative effect of GLA is probably due to cellular dysfunction caused by fatty acid modificati ons.