Effect of 1-gamma linolenyl-3-eicosapentaenoyl propane diol on the growth of human pancreatic carcinoma in vitro and in vivo

Essential fatty acids such as gammalinolenic (GLA) and eicosapentaenoic (EP A) acids have been proposed as anticancer drugs. The aim of this study was to test the effect of a lipid emulsion containing both GLA and EPA in a nov el chemical formulation of 1-gamma linolenyl-3-eicosapentaenoyl propane dio l on the growth of human pancreatic carcinoma in vitro and in nude mice. Th is compound had a dose-dependent growth-inhibitory effect on human pancreat ic cancer cell lines MIA PaCa-2 and Pane-1 in vitro. The concentration nece ssary for 50% growth inhibition was 25 mu mol/l for MIA PaCa-2 and 68 mu mo l/l for Pane-1 (95% CI 20-29 and 59-77 mu mol/l respectively). Nude mice be aring subcutaneous pancreatic tumours produced with the MIA PaCa-2 cell lin e were treated with the maximum tolerated dose (6.75 mg GLA and 7.3 mg EPA per g of body weight) administered over 10 days by daily intravenous (i.v.) bolus injections. No antitumour effect or major alteration in tumour lipid fatty acid composition was seen in comparison with control animals. Concur rent treatment with parenteral iron (iron saccharate, 5 mu g/gram body weig ht daily) did not make a significant difference. Further improvements in fa tty acid delivery mechanisms are necessary before they can become useful an ticancer agents. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.