COMPARISON OF HEXADECYLPHOSPHOCHOLINE WITH FISH-OIL AS AN ANTITUMOR AGENT

Hexadecylphosphocholine (HePC) reduced the growth of the human mammary tumor, MX-1, in the athymic nude mouse similar to the fish oil, MaxEP A. When used together, HePC and MaxEPA were additive towards reducing tumor growth. An unsaturated alkylphosphocholine mixture, ShisoPC, was not as effective as HePC in reducing tumor growth. MaxEPA reduced tum or PGE(2) levels greater than 90%, while HePC and the ShisoPC only red uced tumor PGE(2) 40-60% with HePC being slightly better than ShisoPC. MaxEPA markedly increased the cellular omega 3 fatty acids and decrea sed 20:4 omega 6, the substrate for PGE(2). HePC did not alter the tum or fatty acid composition, but it significantly lowered the total fatt y acid concentration of the tumor by about 47%. In addition, phosphati dylcholine and sphingomyelin decreased in tumors from animals treated with HePC, and alterations in other phospholipids also were noted. The se data suggest that different mechanisms exist for HePC and fish oil in reducing tumor growth. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.