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Stearate preferentially induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells

Lynda M Evans1, Stephanie L Cowey, Gene P Siegal

  • 1University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.

Nutrition and Cancer
|October 20, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Stearic acid preferentially induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells, not healthy cells. Protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in this cell death pathway, suggesting a potential role for dietary stearic acid in cancer prevention.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Stearic acid (stearate), an 18-carbon saturated fatty acid, exhibits anti-cancer properties by inhibiting invasion, proliferation, and inducing apoptosis in various human cell types.
  • The selective action of stearate on cancerous versus noncancerous breast cells and its underlying mechanism remain uninvestigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the specificity of stearate-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells compared to noncancerous cells.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanism responsible for stearate-induced apoptosis.

Main Methods:

  • Morphological analysis
  • Cell viability assays
  • Caspase-3 activity assays
  • Inhibition of de novo diacylglycerol synthesis and protein kinase C (PKC) activity.

Main Results:

  • Stearic acid demonstrated time- and dose-dependent induction of apoptosis selectively in cancerous breast cells.
  • Inhibition of de novo diacylglycerol synthesis or PKC blocked stearate-induced caspase-3 activity.
  • Evidence suggests the involvement of a novel or classical PKC isozyme in the stearate-induced apoptotic pathway.

Conclusions:

  • This study is the first to report that stearic acid preferentially induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells.
  • Protein kinase C (PKC) is implicated in the signaling cascade of stearate-induced apoptosis.
  • Dietary stearic acid may hold potential benefits for breast cancer prevention or treatment.

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