Abstract
Long-term administration of fish oil is well known to suppress cancer cell growth and metastasis. However, the mechanisms of fish oil by which the oil could exert anti-cancer effects are unexplained. Vascular endothelial factor (VEGF), which is produced by tumor cells is an essential factor for cancer cell growth and metastasis. In the present study, therefore, we examined whether fish oil could suppress VEGF production from tumor cells using B16 melanoma cells and several types of fish oil components in vitro. B16 melanoma cells were stimulated with 1.0 μg LPS in the presence of various concentrations of either DHA, DPA or EPA, which are the major components of fish oil. After 24h, culture super natants were obtained and the contents of VEGF was analyzed by ELISA. Addition of DHA and DPA at 0.5μg/ml and higher into cell cultures could inhibit the ability of B16 cells to produce VEGF, which was increased by LPS stimulation. On the other hand, EPA at more than 1.0μg/ml could not suppress VEGF production from B16 cells in response to LPS stimulation. DHA and DPA failed to suppress B16 cell growth even when there compounds were added to cell culture at more than 1.0μg/ml. These results may suggest that anti-cancer activity of fish oil is due, in part, to the inhibitory action of DHA and DPA on VEGF production. [Jpn J Physiol 54 Suppl:S225 (2004)]
