The results of a new study recently published in Journal Blood showed how a compound found in fish oil may in the future be able to eradicate blood cancer, known as leukemia.
In laboratory experiments at the University of Pennsylvania, researchers found that the Omega 3 component, known as Delta-12-J3 Prostaglandin or D12PGJ3, can selectively target stem cells of chronic myelogenous leukemia or CML.
D12PGJ3 arises from eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a long-chain fatty acid that abounds in fatty fish. A lot of preliminary research has now been shown that omega-3 fatty acids have important health benefits in helping to reduce the risk of disease, but this latest test now opens up the incredible possibility that Omega 3 can be used in cancer therapy at some point.
“Studies in the past on fatty acids have shown benefits for the health of fatty acids in the cardiovascular system and brain development, especially in infants, but we have shown that some omega-3 metabolites have the ability to selectively kill leukemic stem cells,” said Sandip Prabhu, author of a new study and adjunct professor of immunology and molecular toxicology in the Department of Veterinary and Medical Sciences
Prabhu also said that stem cells must be targeted because they can divide and cause more cancer cells.
Current drugs used for CML can prolong a patient’s life by keeping the number of leukemic cells in the blood, but they cannot cure leukemia because they are not specifically targeted to leukemic stem cells. Robert Paulson, author and associate professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences.
“Patients must constantly take drugs,” said Paulson. "If they stop, the disease will recur because the leukemia stem cells are drug resistant."
“These stem cells can hide from treatment, and a small number of stem cells leads to more leukemia cells,” said Paulson.
“So targeting of stem cells is necessary if you want to cure leukemia.”
CML is a reliably rare cancer that results in too many white blood cells. It is not a disease that passes through families and can occur in any person at any age, although this will most likely affect middle-aged and elderly people.
Leukemia begins in the bone marrow in a cell called a stem cell. Stem cells produce new blood cells by copying them themselves, and then dividing into two new cells. In most cases of this disease, something went wrong, just in this process of dividing cells and genes, which are usually found in separate chromosomes, get stuck together, causing an abnormal cell. This gene mutation is called the Philadelphia chromosome. However, the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome is not the only factor used to make a diagnosis of CML, since it is often present in other types of leukemia.
Tests performed to diagnose CML include a complete blood count and platelet count, a bone marrow biopsy, identification of the Philadelphia chromosome, and a physical examination to determine that the spleen is swollen.
Exposure to radiation can increase the risk of developing CML, although in most cases of leukemia the exact cause is not obvious.
There are three phases of CML. The first stage is called the chronic phase, and this stage has been developing slowly over the years. During this period, symptoms may be absent. The second phase is the accelerated phase, and at this stage there may be pain in the left part under the rib cage, moderate fever and pain in the bones. The final phase is called the explosive crisis, and this is the final stage.
If the disease is done soon enough, then there are available drugs that can stop the development of the disease, but the only medicine is bone marrow transplantation. Many people are diagnosed at the last stage. At this stage nothing can be done.
Scientists in this latest study are now working to find out whether the compound found in fish oil can be used to treat the explosion stage caused by this leukemia. They also filed a patent application and intend to further investigate the fish oil compound in human studies.
