A plethora of research documents the role of chronic inflammatory mediators such as 5-lipooxygenase (5-LOX) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the manifestation and progression of prostate and other cancers.7-19,30,31,33,49,52-54,87,88
The typical American diet is high in omega-6 fatty acids, saturated fats, and arachidonic acid. Over-consumption of these foods, and under-consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, contribute significantly to systemic chronic inflammatory states.
Boswellia extracts have been thoroughly studied as natural remedies for inflammatory disorders. A patented extract from boswellia called 5-LOXIN® has potent ability to inhibit the enzyme 5-LOX, preventing the formation of protein-degrading enzymes, and protecting against inflammation-induced events that can promote tumor angiogenesis.
Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase (5-lipoxygenase, 5-LO, 5-LOX or Alox5), which transforms EFAs into leukotrienes, is a current target for pharmaceutical intervention in a number of diseases. 5-LO is a target for pharmaceutical intervention in CAD.
Mice fed fish oil and curcumin showed a significantly reduced tumor volume, 25% (P < 0.04) and 43% (P < 0.005), respectively, and importantly, a combination of curcumin and fish oil diet showed > 72% (P < 0.0001) tumor volume reduction. Expression and activity of iNOS, COX-2, and 5-LOX are downregulated, and p21 is upregulated in tumor xenograft fed curcumin combined with fish oil diet when compared to individual diets. The preceding results evidence for the first time that curcumin combined with omega-3 fatty acids provide synergistic pancreatic tumor inhibitory properties.
Prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer by curcumin in combination with omega-3 fatty acids.
Swamy MV, Citineni B, Patlolla JM, Mohammed A, Zhang Y, Rao CV.
Nutr Cancer. 2008;60 Suppl 1:81-9.
PMID: 19003584
Prostate tumor growth and recurrence can be modulated by the omega-6:omega-3 ratio in diet: athymic mouse xenograft model simulating radical prostatectomy.
Kelavkar UP, Hutzley J, Dhir R, Kim P, Allen KG, McHugh K.
Neoplasia. 2006 Feb;8(2):112-24.
PMID: 16611404
Li N, Sood S, Wang S, Fang M, Wang P, Sun Z, Yang CS, Chen X.
Overexpression of 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase 2 in hamster and human oral cancer and chemopreventive effects of zileuton and celecoxib.
Clin Cancer Res. 2005 Mar 1;11(5):2089-96.
PMID
Sun Z, Sood S, Li N, Ramji D, Yang P, Newman RA, Yang CS, Chen X.
Involvement of the 5-lipoxygenase/leukotriene A4 hydrolase pathway in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced oral carcinogenesis in hamster cheek pouch, and inhibition of carcinoge
Controlling the resolution of acute inflammation: a new genus of dual anti-inflammatory and proresolving mediators.
Serhan CN.
J Periodontol. 2008 Aug;79(8 Suppl):1520-6. Review.
PMID: 18673006
doi:10.1902/jop.2008.080231
In biochemistry, eicosanoids are signaling molecules derived from omega-3 (ω-3) or omega-6 (ω-6) fats. They exert complex control over many bodily systems, especially in inflammation, immunity and as messengers in the central nervous system. The network