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Research: ARSHAD and COLLEAGUES,
Listed in Issue 190
Abstract
ARSHAD and COLLEAGUES, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester, UK. ali.arshad@doctors.org.uk examine the potential applications of fish oils rich in n-3 fatty acids in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (APC), present a selection of the studies carried out to date and outline avenues of possible further clinical investigation
Background
The palliative treatment of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (APC) has undergone little advancement in the last 15 years.
Methodology
Novel therapies that have been investigated to extend survival have shown little benefit over existing chemotherapy regimens. Patients with APC often experience significant weight loss, which is one of the primary factors involved in declining quality of life. Recently, the ability of n-3 fatty acid rich oral preparations to attenuate or reverse tumour-related weight loss has been investigated in this patient group with encouraging results.
Results
Laboratory investigation has also yielded promising results suggesting a potential direct tumouricidal effect of n-3 fatty acids as well as the putative potentiation of existing chemotherapy regimes.
Conclusion
The present review aims to examine the potential applications of fish oils rich in n-3 fatty acids in patients with APC, present a selection of the studies carried out to date and outline avenues of possible further clinical investigation.
References
Arshad A, Al-Leswas D, Stephenson J, Metcalfe M and Dennison A. Potential applications of fish oils rich in n-3 fatty acids in the palliative treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. [Review] Source British Journal of Nutrition. 106 (6): 795-800. Sep 2011.
Comment
Fish oils rich in n-3 fatty acids have shown the ability to attenuate or reverse tumour-related weight loss in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. A review of potential applications of fish oils in patients with APC may present an additional mode of palliative treatment for such patients.
