Omega-3 Fatty Acids Suppress Growth of SW620 Human Colon Cancer Xenografts in Nude Mice TONE F. BATHEN1, KRISTIN HOLMGREN2, ANNE G״RIL LUNDEMO3, MARI H. HJELSTUEN4, HANS E. KROKAN2, INGRID S. GRIBBESTAD1 and SVANHILD A. SCH״NBERG2
1Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, NTNU, N-7489 Trondheim; Departments of 2Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, and 3Laboratory Medicine, Children’s and Women’s Health, NTNU, N-7006 Trondheim; 4Stavanger University Hospital, Department of Hemato-Oncology, N-4068 Stavanger, Norway
Abstract. Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of fish oil on growth of colon cancer in nude mice. Materials and Methods: Xenografts were initiated in mice receiving a standard diet or diets modified with corn or fish oil. After 3 weeks, mice were sacrificed, tumors were removed and processed for lipid analysis, histopathology and high resolution magic angle spinning magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results: Diet modified with fish oil suppressed tumor growth. Xenografts from mice receiving fish oil had higher levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with concomitant reduced levels of omega-6 PUFAs. Furthermore, these xenografts had significantly lower levels of phosphocholine. Overall the results indicated less aggressive tumor growth in mice receiving a fish oil diet.