Very long-chain fatty acids accumulate in breast cancer tissue and serum
Abstract Background Breast cancer (BC) remains one of the most common cancers with relatively high mortality and is associated with alterations in fatty acid (FA) metabolism. While typical FAs have been extensively studied, there is increasing evidence for a potential role of very long chain fatty a...
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BMC
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Cancer Cell International |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03928-2 |
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| author | Alicja Pakiet Michalina Ciosek Oliwia Lange Katarzyna Duzowska Agata Janczy Małgorzata Kapusta Yelyzaveta Razghonova Marcin Ekman Anna Abacajew-Chmyłko Paweł Kabata Adriana Mika |
| author_facet | Alicja Pakiet Michalina Ciosek Oliwia Lange Katarzyna Duzowska Agata Janczy Małgorzata Kapusta Yelyzaveta Razghonova Marcin Ekman Anna Abacajew-Chmyłko Paweł Kabata Adriana Mika |
| author_sort | Alicja Pakiet |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Breast cancer (BC) remains one of the most common cancers with relatively high mortality and is associated with alterations in fatty acid (FA) metabolism. While typical FAs have been extensively studied, there is increasing evidence for a potential role of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in cancer growth and progression. Methods This study involved 54 BC patients from whom samples of malignant tumor, normal fibroglandular tissue, and breast adipose tissue were collected. Their FA content was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The expression of fatty acid elongases (ELOVLs) and FA-transporting proteins was analyzed in the tissues by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence. Results: Higher levels of saturated and monounsaturated VLCFAs were found in BC tissues compared to normal tissues (p < 0.001) and in patients’ blood compared to healthy controls blood (p < 0.001). However, the level of VLCFAs was lower in BC adipose tissue compared to healthy control adipose tissue (p < 0.001). Interestingly, there were no obvious differences in ELOVL1 mRNA or protein levels between normal and cancer tissues. Conclusions: Elevated levels of VLCFAs in BC tissue are the result of lipid uptake from outside the tumor rather than in situ synthesis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-081a1f7616114c1db49ad363e5655d7f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1475-2867 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancer Cell International |
| spelling | doaj-art-081a1f7616114c1db49ad363e5655d7f2025-08-20T04:03:07ZengBMCCancer Cell International1475-28672025-08-0125111310.1186/s12935-025-03928-2Very long-chain fatty acids accumulate in breast cancer tissue and serumAlicja Pakiet0Michalina Ciosek1Oliwia Lange2Katarzyna Duzowska3Agata Janczy4Małgorzata Kapusta5Yelyzaveta Razghonova6Marcin Ekman7Anna Abacajew-Chmyłko8Paweł Kabata9Adriana Mika10Department of Environmental Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry, University of GdanskDepartment of Surgical Oncology, Transplant Surgery and General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of GdanskDepartment of Environmental Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry, University of GdanskDepartment of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of GdanskDepartment of Food Commodity Science, Faculty of Health Sciences with the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of GdanskBioimaging Laboratory, University of GdanskDepartment of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of GdanskDepartment of Surgical Oncology, Transplant Surgery and General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of GdanskDepartment of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of GdanskDepartment of General Surgery, Copernicus Mamma Centrum Copernicus LLCDepartment of Environmental Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry, University of GdanskAbstract Background Breast cancer (BC) remains one of the most common cancers with relatively high mortality and is associated with alterations in fatty acid (FA) metabolism. While typical FAs have been extensively studied, there is increasing evidence for a potential role of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in cancer growth and progression. Methods This study involved 54 BC patients from whom samples of malignant tumor, normal fibroglandular tissue, and breast adipose tissue were collected. Their FA content was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The expression of fatty acid elongases (ELOVLs) and FA-transporting proteins was analyzed in the tissues by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence. Results: Higher levels of saturated and monounsaturated VLCFAs were found in BC tissues compared to normal tissues (p < 0.001) and in patients’ blood compared to healthy controls blood (p < 0.001). However, the level of VLCFAs was lower in BC adipose tissue compared to healthy control adipose tissue (p < 0.001). Interestingly, there were no obvious differences in ELOVL1 mRNA or protein levels between normal and cancer tissues. Conclusions: Elevated levels of VLCFAs in BC tissue are the result of lipid uptake from outside the tumor rather than in situ synthesis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03928-2Breast cancerFatty acidsVery-long chain fatty acidsVLCFAsFatty acid elongase 1ELOVL1 |
| spellingShingle | Alicja Pakiet Michalina Ciosek Oliwia Lange Katarzyna Duzowska Agata Janczy Małgorzata Kapusta Yelyzaveta Razghonova Marcin Ekman Anna Abacajew-Chmyłko Paweł Kabata Adriana Mika Very long-chain fatty acids accumulate in breast cancer tissue and serum Cancer Cell International Breast cancer Fatty acids Very-long chain fatty acids VLCFAs Fatty acid elongase 1 ELOVL1 |
| title | Very long-chain fatty acids accumulate in breast cancer tissue and serum |
| title_full | Very long-chain fatty acids accumulate in breast cancer tissue and serum |
| title_fullStr | Very long-chain fatty acids accumulate in breast cancer tissue and serum |
| title_full_unstemmed | Very long-chain fatty acids accumulate in breast cancer tissue and serum |
| title_short | Very long-chain fatty acids accumulate in breast cancer tissue and serum |
| title_sort | very long chain fatty acids accumulate in breast cancer tissue and serum |
| topic | Breast cancer Fatty acids Very-long chain fatty acids VLCFAs Fatty acid elongase 1 ELOVL1 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-025-03928-2 |
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