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Encyclopedia of Cancer pp 230–235Cite as

Arachidonic Acid Pathway

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Synonyms

Cyclooxygenase; COX; metabolism; Lipoxygenase; LOX; metabolism; eicosanoid signaling

Definition

The arachidonic acid pathway describes the biosynthesis of eicosanoids from arachidonic acid (AA) including its formation from omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and the synthesis of eicosanoids from eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) including its formation from omega-3 PUFAs. Eicosanoids are short-lived biologically potent, autocrine or paracrine acting, lipid signaling molecules.

Characteristics

The AA pathway is involved in many physiological processes including inflammation and cancer. The pleiotropic effects of modulating this pathway are manifold and are depending on the levels of fatty acids from (dietary) substrates, which in turn modulate the level of eicosanoid precursors (AA and EPA) determining the amounts of eicosanoid lipid mediators actually produced. Initial and still ongoing research on the pharmacological inhibition of inflammatory reactions by nonsteroidal...

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References

  1. Larsson SC, Kumlin M, Ingelman-Sundberg M, Wolk A (2004) Dietary long-chain n-3 fatty acids for the prevention of cancer: a review of potential mechanisms. Am J Clin Nutr 79(6):935–945

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  4. Ulrich CM, Bigler J, Potter JD (2006) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for cancer prevention: promise, perils and pharmacogenetics. Nat Rev Cancer 6(2):130–140

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  5. Buchanan FG, Dubois RN (2006) Connecting COX-2 and Wnt in cancer. Cancer Cell 9(1):6–8

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Public Health and Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    Henk J. van Kranen & Christine L. E. Siezen

Authors
  1. Henk J. van Kranen
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  2. Christine L. E. Siezen
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Director Division of Tumour Genetics (B030), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, Heidelberg, Germany

    Manfred Schwab (Professor for Genetics) (Professor for Genetics)

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© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York

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Kranen, H.J.v., Siezen, C.L.E. (2008). Arachidonic Acid Pathway. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-47648-1_380

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