Role of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on cyclooxygenase-2 metabolism in brain-metastatic melanoma

Abstract

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is important in the progression of epithelial tumors. Evidence indicates that ω-6 PUFAs such as arachidonic acid (AA) promote the growth of tumor cells; however, ω-3 fatty acids [eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] inhibit tumor cell proliferation. We investigated the effects of ω-3 PUFA on the expression and function of COX-2 in 70W, a human melanoma cell line that metastasizes to the brain in nude mice. We show that 1) tumor necrosis factor-α upregulates the expression of both COX-2 mRNA and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, and 2) ω-3 and ω-6 PUFA regulate COX-2 mRNA expression and PGE2 production. AA increased COX-2 mRNA expression and prostaglandin production in ω-6-stimulated 70W cells. Conversely, COX-2 mRNA expression decreased in cells incubated with EPA or DHA. AA increased Matrigel™ invasion 2.4-fold, whereas EPA or DHA did not. Additionally, PGE2 increased in vitro invasion 2.5-fold, whereas exposure to PGE3 significantly decreased invasion. Our results demonstrate that incubation of 70W cells with either AA or PGE2 increased invasiveness, whereas incubation with EPA or DHA downregulated both COX-2 mRNA and protein expression, with a subsequent decrease in Matrigel™ invasion.Taken together, these results indicate that ω-3 PUFA regulate COX-2-mediated invasion in brain-metastatic melanoma.

Keywords

• arachidonic acid
• brain melanoma
• cancer
• docosahexaenoic acid
• eicosapentaenoic acid
• polyunsaturated fatty acids