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Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation in Cancer Therapy

Does Eicosapentanoic Acid Influence the Radiosensitivity of Tumor Cells?

Omega-3-Fettsäuren in der Krebstherapie: Beeinflusst Eicosapentaensäure die Strahlensensibilität humaner Tumorzellen?

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Abstract

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) can enhance the radiosensitivity of different human tumor cell lines.

Materials and Methods:

Colon adenocarcinoma cells HT-29, and two glioblastoma multiforme tumor cells T98G and U251 were cultured under standard conditions. Cell growth was observed during administration with different concentrations of EPA, using it as the free fatty acid dissolved in ethanol or bound to bovine serum albumin. To investigate the influence of EPA (free and bound) on radiosensitivity, tumor cells were pretreated 30 minutes or 24 hours prior to irradiation with the fatty acid. Cell survival was measured by colony-forming assays.

Results:

When combined with irradiation, incubation with EPA was found to result in enhanced radiosensitivity with substantial variation: while there was strong radiosensitization for HT-29 and U251 cells, almost no effect for T98G cells was observed. A marked radiosensitization was clearly dependent on the treatment schedule.

Conclusion:

The observations suggest that EPA is not only a nutritional adjuvant but also may be a potential candidate to enhance the efficacy of irradiation on human cancer cells.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel:

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde geprüft, ob die polyungesättigte Omega-3-Fettsäure cis-5,8,11,14,17-Eicosapentaensäure (EPA) die Strahlensensibilität verschiedener humaner Tumorzelllinien erhöhen kann.

Methodik:

Zellen eines kolorektalen Adenokarzinoms (HT-29) sowie zweier Glioblastome (T98G und U251) wurden unter Standardbedingungen kultiviert. Um den Einfluss von EPA auf das Wachstum der Zellen zu ermitteln, wurden diese verschiedenen EPAKonzentrationen ausgesetzt. Dabei erfolgte die Zugabe von EPA entweder als freie Fettsäure (gelöst in Ethanol) oder gebunden an Albumin. Zur Untersuchung der Wirkung von EPA (frei und gebunden) auf die Strahlensensibilität der Tumorzellen wurden die Zellen 30 min bzw. 24 h vor der Bestrahlung mit der Fettsäure behandelt und das Zellüberleben anhand von Koloniebildungstests ermittelt.

Ergebnisse:

Die zusätzliche Behandlung der Zellen mit EPA vor der Bestrahlung resultierte in einer unterschiedlich stark ausgeprägten Erhöhung der Radiosensitivität der Tumorzellen: Während für die HT-29- and U251-Zellen eine deutliche Strahlensensibilisierung nachweisbar war, konnte bei den T98G-Zellen kein Effekt verzeichnet werden. Die Strahlensensibilisierung war abhängig vom Zeitpunkt der EPA-Zugabe.

Zusammenfassung:

Die erhaltenen Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Omega-3-Fettsäure EPA in der Tumortherapie nicht nur als Nahrungsergänzungsmittel von Bedeutung ist, sondern möglicherweise auch zur Wirkungssteigerung der Bestrahlung auf Tumorzellen beitragen kann.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiotherapy, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany

    Katrin Manda PhD, Stephan Kriesen & Guido Hildebrandt

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany

    Rainer Fietkau & Gunther Klautke

  3. Department of Radiotherapy, University of Rostock, Südring 75, 18059, Rostock, Germany

    Katrin Manda PhD

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  1. Katrin Manda PhD
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Correspondence to Katrin Manda PhD.

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Manda, K., Kriesen, S., Hildebrandt, G. et al. Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation in Cancer Therapy. Strahlenther Onkol 187, 127–134 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-010-2166-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00066-010-2166-6

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