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ω-3 PUFAs and Colon Cancer: Experimental Studies and Human Interventional Trials

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Book cover Dietary Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Cancer

Part of the book series: Diet and Cancer ((DICA,volume 1))

Abstract

Colon cancer represents one of the most frequent forms of cancer worldwide. There is plenty of evidence to support the notion that chemoprevention is a major component of colon cancer control, and that dietary fats influence the rate of incidence of this kind of cancer. In particular, a variety of experimental studies conducted on animals subject to chemical carcinogenesis of colon, transplanted with colon cancer cells, or representing a genetic model of colon cancer have demonstrated the ability of diets at high content of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) to reduce the risk, growth, and progression of colon cancer. Several of these studies have also emphasized the importance of a reduced dietary ω-6 PUFA/ω-3 PUFA ratio to diminish the risk. The beneficial anti-tumor effects of ω-3 PUFAs have been also largely demonstrated in colon cancer cells treated in vitro with these fatty acids. The synergic action of combinations of ω-3 PUFAs and other anti-neoplastic agents has also been demonstrated both in vivo and in vitro. On the contrary, just a few human interventional trials have been conducted so far, but there is complete agreement among them and with the experimental studies on the anti-tumor efficacy of increased dietary intakes of ω-3 PUFAs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of General Pathology, Catholic University, L.go F. Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy

    Simona Serini & Elisabetta Piccioni

  2. Institute of General Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University, L.go F. Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy

    Gabriella Calviello

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  1. Simona Serini
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  2. Elisabetta Piccioni
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  1. Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore - Roma, Largo F. Vito 1, Roma, 00168, Italy

    Gabriella Calviello

  2. Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore - Roma, Largo F. Vito 1, Roma, 00168, Italy

    Simona Serini

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Serini, S., Piccioni, E., Calviello, G. (2010). ω-3 PUFAs and Colon Cancer: Experimental Studies and Human Interventional Trials. In: Calviello, G., Serini, S. (eds) Dietary Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Cancer. Diet and Cancer, vol 1. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3579-0_3

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