Role of dietary fatty acids in mammary gland development and breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Estimates suggest up to 35% of cases may be preventable through diet and lifestyle modification. Growing research on the role of fats in human health suggests that early exposure in life to specific fatty acids, when tissues are particularly sensitive to their environment, can have long-term health impacts. The present review examines the role of dietary fat in mammary gland development and breast cancer throughout the lifecycle. Overall, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have promising cancer-preventive effects when introduced early in life, and warrant further research to elucidate the mechanisms of action.

An efficient and robust fatty acid profiling method for plasma metabolomic studies by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

“…Some fatty acids are important constituents of cell membranes [1], while others are precursors of potent bioactive lipids [2]. Imbalances in fatty acids can lead to a wide variety of diseases, including inflammation [3], neurodegeneration [4], tumorigenesis [5,6], metabolic disorders [7,8] and cardiovascular disease [9].…”

Mammary tumor development is directly inhibited by lifelong n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

“…Importantly, experimental studies have shed light on potential factors which may help explain the inconsistency observed in human studies [25]. For example, the influence of early life dietary exposures on mammary gland (MG) development during puberty and other critical periods may influence BC risk later in life [26]. This is due to alterations in the structure of the MG which can have lasting effects on BC risk by affecting the number of tumor initiation sites known as terminal end buds (TEB).…”

Identification of a Molecular Signature Underlying Inhibition of Mammary Carcinoma Growth by Dietary N-3 Fatty Acids

“…Of the various aspects of the carcinogenic response inhibited, the effect of high n-3:n-6 was greatest on tumor burden. Because an understanding of the mechanisms by which n-3 fatty acids affect the balance between cell proliferation and cell death is important to assess their potential value in both cancer prevention and cancer control (2), this investigation focused on identifying candidate pathways by which a high dietary ratio of n-3:n-6 affected tumor size homeostasis, that is, the balance between cell proliferation and cell death (3). There are many avenues through which dietary n-3:n-6 ratio could be exerting effects (1,4), of which the activation of PPARs (5,6) and the altered synthesis of types and/or amounts of tissue eicosanoids may be particularly relevant to carcinogenesis (7,8,9).…”