The Suppressive Effect of NF-kB Activation After Eicosapentaenoic Acid Intake Before Surgery.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM

To ascertain whether preoperative neo-adjuvant nutritional therapy (NANT) using eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplementation can provoke a rise in blood levels of epa capable of restricting NF-B nuclear translocation in resected specimens.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients were allocated to two groups depending on individual preference

Patients in the treatment group received 2 g of epa daily for two weeks prior to surgery (NANT group, n=18). Patients in the control group had a normal diet (CONT group, n=26). NF-B translocation rate, in specimens collected, was investigated by histopathology. Five hundred malignant cells were counted, and tissues with 10% or higher NF-B nuclear translocation were determined to be positive.

RESULTS

The epa blood concentration rose significantly in the NANT group (p<0.01). The positive rate of NF-B nuclear translocation in cancer cells was 11.1% in the NANT group compared with 50% in the CONT group. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Increased blood concentrations of epa after preoperative supplementation was associated with suppression of NF-B nuclear translocation in malignant cells. These results suggest that intake of EPA-containing supplements before surgery can control NF-B activation and by extension, cancer aggressiveness.