[Essential fatty acids in carcinoma]

Carcinomatous tissue consumes intensely polyenic fatty acids which are the building elements of growing biomembranes. The authors compared plasma levels of essential fatty acids (EFA) in three groups of subjects: 1. patients with carcinoma, 2. control group, 3. groups with sub-nutrition. The profile in these three groups differs significantly. In patients with carcinoma the level of derived EFA is reduced (20:4w6, 20:5w3, 22:6w3), while primary EFA (linoleic acid 18:2w6) is unaltered. The results suggest that in patients with carcinoma there is a specific reduction of EFA essential for the formation of cellular biomembranes. The reduction is probably due to the increased consumptions of derived EFA by carcinomatous tissues.