Apoptosis & Cancer

The major human dietary poly-unsaturated fatty acid is linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that can be metabolized to either 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid [13(S)-HODE] via lipoxygenase or [13(R)-HODE] by p450 enzymes. Alternatively, cyclooxygenase metabolism of linoleic acid results in the production of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid [15(S)-HETE]. Changes in the intra-cellular ratio of 13(S)-HODE to 15(S)-HETE have been linked to a number of physiological conditions including cancer and cardiovascular disease. 13(S)-HODE helps to mediate cell adhesion and excessive proliferation that is critical in the formation of tumors and metastases, as well as the formation of atherogenic plaques.