D. Ravichandran et al., Effect of 1-gamma linolenyl-3-eicosapentaenoyl propane diol on the growth of human pancreatic carcinoma in vitro and in vivo, EUR J CANC, 36(3), 2000, pp. 423-427
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.