Scientists Explore Link between Dha, Cancer

Tulsa World

06-27-07

Scientists at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center are studying how health-boosting omega-3 fatty acids may kill cancer cells.

Research shows that DHA (decosahexaenoic acid), an unsaturated fatty acid in fish oil (a common source of omega-3s), can kill cancer cells in lab conditions, said Wei-Qun Ding, an assistant professor in the OUHSC pathology department. Ding and his research team in Oklahoma City are studying how DHA kills cancer cells in hopes of developing technology or a medicine that could someday help cancer patients.

"That's our long-term objective," Ding said. "So we're focusing on the mechanics of how (DHA) works."

Omega-3 fatty acids have already been proven to aid cardiovascular health, so much that the American Heart Association recommends eating fatty fish at least two times a week, and adding it to diets in forms such as ground flax seed, walnuts and soy.

Dietitians and doctors often stress the need to increase our intake of omega-3 fats and reduce our intake of omega-6 fats, the more common fat in American diets.

American diets typically contain more than 10 times the needed omega-6 oils, because they are added to most processed foods and are found in common cooking oils, including sunflower, safflower, corn, cottonseed and soybean oils.

Other recent research has bolstered arguments that correcting the balance between omega-3 fats and omega-6 fats could be beneficial for brain and joint health, and reducing inflammation in the body.

Could correcting the balance of omega-3s in our diet be a cure for cancer as well?

Research proving that direct connection in humans is a long way off, Ding said.

But by studying how omega-3s work to kill cancer cells, scientists hope to be at least a little bit closer.

The work of Ding's research team was recently published in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, in which they have identified an enzyme that mediates DHA's killing of cancer cells.

More studies may eventually lead to clinical trials, he said.

Cary Aspinwall 581-8477

cary.aspinwall~tulsaworld.com

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