Elevation of ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Attenuates PTEN-deficiency Induced Endometrial Cancer Development through Regulation of COX-2 and PGE2 Production

Sci Rep. 2015 Oct 15:5:14958. doi: 10.1038/srep14958.

Abstract

Endometrial cancer is one of the most common gynecologic malignancies. Phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN)-mutation is frequently identified in endometrial cancer patients. Although high dietary intake of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has been associated with reduced risk of endometrial cancer, the underlying mechanisms is still unknown. To this end, we evaluated the impact of ω-3 PUFAs using several endometrial cancer cellular and animal models. While ~27% and 40% of heterozygotic PTEN mutant mice developed endometrial cancer and atypical complex hyperplasia, respectively, none of the PTEN(+/-) mice developed cancer when we overexpressed an mfat-1 transgene, which allowed endogenous production of ω-3 PUFAs. Fish oil-enriched diet or expression of mfat-1 transgene significantly inhibited the growth of xenograft tumor derived from RL95-2 cells bearing a PTEN null mutation. At cellular level, ω-3 PUFAs treatment decreased the viability of RL95-2 cells, AKT phosphorylation, and cyclin D1 expression. These molecular events are primarily mediated through reduction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. Exogenous PGE2 treatment completely blunted the impact of ω-3 PUFAs on endometrial cancer. Thus, we revealed the direct inhibitory effects of ω-3 PUFAs on endometrial cancer development and the underlying mechanisms involving reduction of COX-2 and PGE2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
  • Cyclin D1 / genetics
  • Cyclin D1 / metabolism
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / biosynthesis*
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / genetics
  • Dinoprostone / biosynthesis*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Eicosanoids / metabolism
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / metabolism*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Heterografts
  • Humans
  • Metabolomics / methods
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / deficiency*
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / genetics
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • Eicosanoids
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • fat1 protein, mouse
  • Cyclin D1
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Dinoprostone