Prognosis of breast cancer patients is often related with changes in inflammatory status, which involves a multitude of interactions between different cell types and chemical mediators. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), mainly represented by eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are able to inhibit different pathways including leukocyte chemotaxis, adhesion molecule expression and interactions, and production of inflammatory cytokines, through the action of specialized proresolving lipid mediators (such as resolvins - Rvs, protectins, and maresins), acting in reducing/resolving the inflammatory process and stimulating the phases of resolution of inflammation. In this light, the resolution of inflammation is nowadays considered as an active process to be pursued in cancer.
We primarly aim to describe the signature of the Resolvins status (circulating levels) in a cohort of patients with breast cancer candidate to breast surgery. In addition, in a subgroup of participants supplemented with oral DHA enriched formula, which we expect to be able to release and modulate Resolvins levels, we aim to evaluate how Resolvins circulating levels may change after this metabolic intervention.
Patients with new diagnosis of primary breast cancer and patients with benign breast disease (control group) will be considered before undergoing planned breast surgery, and plasma levels of RvD1, RvD2, RvD3, RvE1, RvE2 and RvE3 will be assessed by liquid chromatography¿tandem mass spectrometry analytical method at baseline and after 10 days of oral DHA supplementation, comparing the results between patients and controls.
By this study, we expect to obtain more information on possible metabolic and nutritional changes and on the inflammatory status and its prognostic value in the short and long term in a population of patients with breast cancer. This will allow to identify potential novel metabolic intervention to modulate Resolvins status in breast cancer
