Abstract
Fatty acid metabolism is altered in colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to investigate incorporation of dietary n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) into plasma phospholipids (PLs), tumour tissue, and normal mucosa in young CRC patients. We also aimed to study differences in PUFA composition between tumour and normal mucosa, and PUFA status associated with cancer stage. Sixty-five CRC patients younger than 55 years were included in a multicenter study. We assessed dietary fatty acid composition by food-frequency questionnaire. Fatty acid composition in plasma PL (n = 65) and tumour and normal colonic biopsies (n = 32) were analysed by gas chromatography. We observed a significant correlation for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) between dietary intake and concentration in plasma PL (weight%) (r = 0.42; P = 0.001), but not for any n-6 PUFA. Tissue concentrations of arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and DHA (weight%) were 1.7–2.5 times higher in tumour than normal mucosa (P ≤ 0.001). Concentrations of n-3 and n-6 PUFA in plasma PL and tissues were not related to Duke's stage, although patients with more severe cancer stage reported higher intake of n-3 PUFA. In conclusion, we found accumulation of the long-chained n-3 and n-6 PUFA in tumour tissue in young CRC patients.
Highlights
The association between dietary fat and risk of cancer has been extensively investigated, and the composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in diet seems to be of particular importance [1]
We aimed to investigate incorporation of dietary n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) into plasma phospholipids (PLs), tumour tissue, and normal mucosa in young colorectal cancer (CRC) patients
In the present study of young CRC patients, we found that dietary intake of total PUFA and marine n-3 fatty acids EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were according to national dietary
Summary
The association between dietary fat and risk of cancer has been extensively investigated, and the composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in diet seems to be of particular importance [1]. Studies on serum and erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition, regarded as biomarkers for fatty acid intake, mainly support a protective role for the very long-chained n-3 PUFA docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) [8,9,10,11]. Abnormalities in plasma PUFA composition may be interpreted as metabolic changes in CRC patients [12]. Based on changes in n-3 and n-6 PUFA expression in colorectal tumours, compared to normal mucosal tissue [13, 14], found at early stages of adenomas [13], it seems obvious that patients with CRC have an altered PUFA metabolism. PUFA pattern in normal mucosal tissue seems to be similar in CRC patients and healthy subjects [13].
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