Effects of lipids on cancer therapy

The fatty acid composition of cancer cell membranes can change substantially when the cells are exposed to different types of fat. Such change occurs when tumors are grown in animals fed high-fat diets that differ in degree of unsaturation or during culture in media supplemented with various fatty acids. Certain physical and functional properties of the membrane are modified when the polyunsaturated fatty acid content is increased, and the cells become more sensitive to hyperthermia or treatment with doxorubicin. These findings suggest a potential role for lipid nutrition in cancer therapy. By altering the properties of the membrane lipids, changes in the dietary fat intake may provide a new approach for enhancing the effectiveness of certain antineoplastic therapies.