Omega-3 Fatty Acids Reduce Tumor GrowthOmega-3 fatty acids decrease CRYAB, production of oncogenic prostaglandin E and suppress tumor growth in medulloblastoma.
Moderate relevance due to combination effects
We examined the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)—two types of omega-3 fatty acids—on medulloblastoma (MB), a common and aggressive brain tumor in children. Our study involved treating MB cell lines with these fatty acids and also used a mouse model to assess their effects in a living organism. We randomized mice with implanted MB cells into three groups: one receiving DHA, one receiving a combination of DHA and EPA, and a control group.
Through our experiments, we found that DHA and EPA could significantly reduce the secretion of prostaglandin E2, a compound that can promote tumor growth. In doses that we tested, these omega-3 fatty acids impaired the viability and colony formation abilities of MB cells while also increasing cell death. Additionally, we observed that DHA treatment led to reduced tumor size in mice, and we noticed a decrease in inflammatory markers like prostacyclin in treated tumors compared to those in control mice.
Further analysis through RNA sequencing highlighted 10 genes that were commonly downregulated in tumors treated with omega-3 fatty acids. Among them, CRYAB stood out as the most significantly altered gene, a finding we confirmed through immunohistochemistry. This suggests a protective role of these fatty acids in targeting inflammatory responses in the tumor microenvironment, potentially offering a new avenue for medulloblastoma treatment in conjunction with standard therapies.
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DHA in glioblastoma treatmentPreparation and Evaluation of Mebendazole Microemulsion for Intranasal Delivery: an Alternative Approach for Glioblastoma Treatment.
Investigation into combined therapies
We investigated the potential of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as part of a novel treatment for glioblastoma, a challenging brain tumor. Our study involved formulating mebendazole (MBZ) microemulsions that included DHA along with other compounds, assessing their effectiveness in an orthotopic C6 rat model.
The formulations were carefully characterized before testing. We found that one formulation—composed of oleic acid and labrafil, with a 0.1% mucoadhesive agent—showed promising results. Importantly, there were no observable toxic effects on the nasal epithelium, suggesting the safety of this delivery method.
Furthermore, we observed improved survival rates in the treated rats compared to the control group. Our findings implied that this combined approach with DHA and MBZ microemulsions might offer a new avenue for glioblastoma treatment, although we noted that the contribution of DHA alone couldn't be fully isolated.
Overall, our research encourages the exploration of innovative strategies to enhance the treatment of malignant brain tumors through targeted intranasal delivery.
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We investigated the role of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in targeting glioblastoma, a challenging brain tumor with limited treatment options. By utilizing a special technique to create DHA liposomes, we aimed to reduce the inflammatory environment surrounding the tumor. This innovative approach allowed for a targeted delivery of DHA to the affected areas.
Through our research, we observed that these DHA liposomes were quickly taken up by macrophages, a type of immune cell, without causing any harm to them. We also discovered that these liposomes significantly lowered the activity of genes associated with inflammation and decreased the release of key inflammatory cytokines in both stimulated macrophages and glioblastoma cells.
Interestingly, while the DHA liposomes showed effectiveness in regulating inflammation, they did not notably change the expression of a certain anti-inflammatory gene in macrophages. Furthermore, our findings indicated that using DHA in liposome form was more effective than administering it freely.
Overall, our study highlights a promising strategy for using DHA liposomes to target glioblastoma and its inflammatory microenvironment. This innovative approach could lead to new treatment options for patients facing this aggressive type of brain cancer.
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DHA liposomes show promiseMicrofluidic-derived docosahexaenoic acid liposomes for glioblastoma therapy.
Directly targets glioblastoma therapy
We explored an innovative approach to treating glioblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor, by utilizing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) liposomes. These liposomes were created using a microfluidic system that allowed for fine-tuning various properties, which could enhance their effectiveness in targeting tumor cells.
Our findings revealed that these DHA liposomes, ranging in size from 80 nm to 130 nm, were successfully taken up by glioblastoma cells. This uptake was promising, as we saw a reduction in the viability of these cancerous cells. Interestingly, we also observed that DHA liposomes were significantly better at triggering cell death mechanisms compared to free DHA, specifically through pathways that involved caspase-3.
Overall, our study suggests that these microfluidic-derived DHA liposomes might offer new avenues for developing therapies using omega-3 fatty acids against brain tumors, potentially leading to more effective treatment options in the future.
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We investigated how docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) impacts glioblastoma, a type of aggressive brain tumor notorious for its poor outcomes. The focus was on neural stem-like cells within these tumors, as they are known to contribute to drug resistance and promote the heterogeneity of the tumor.
Our research involved examining patient-derived glioblastoma neural stem-like cells grown in neurosphere cultures. We wanted to see how treatments with levels of DHA and arachidonic acid (AA) would affect the fatty acid profiles of these cells. Notably, we discovered that DHA treatment increased both the levels of DHA and the ratio of DHA to AA in these cells, with the assistance of brain fatty acid-binding protein (FABP7) which plays a crucial role in facilitating the uptake of DHA.
An interesting finding was that as the cells absorbed more DHA, their ability to migrate diminished. This could signal a potential therapeutic avenue where increasing DHA in glioblastoma could restrain the aggressive behavior of these neural stem-like cells, potentially leading to better outcomes for patients.
More research will be essential to fully understand the implications of this increased DHA content in the tumor microenvironment and its overall effects on the progression of glioblastoma.
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