Dietary Canola Oil Reduces Breast Cancer Risk

Laboratory of LactationNorth Dakota State University

Outline Background

Previous Studies

Related Work

Recent Project

Ongoing Research

Future Study

Implications

Public Interest

Background Since 2007 we have been

studying the role of canola oil on breast cancer risk (supported by the USDA and Northern Canola Growers Association)

The rationale was based on the fatty acid composition of canola oil

Background Canola oil has an omega-6

to omega-3 ratio of 2:1

61% is oleic acid

Studies have linked this ratio and oleic acid with a reduced breast cancer risk

Previous Studies

Canola Oil

Cell culture model

Animal model

Cell Culture Model

Human breast cancer cells were treated with canola oil

Cell growth was measured

Growth of Human Breast Cancer Cells

**

*

*

0

50

100

150

0 24 48 72 96

Cell

gro

wth

(%

)

Hours after canola oil treatment

Control

CAN

*P < 0.05

Rat Model

Rats fed a diet containing canola oil or corn oil

Tumor induction by chemical carcinogen

Tumor development and measurement monitored

Tumor Measurements

Corn Oil Canola Oil

Tumor Incidence 71% 57%

Latency Period 93 days 103 days

Number of Tumors 2 per rat 1.5 per rat

Tumor Volume 2.3 mm3 1.6 mm3

25%

30%

11%

20%

Publication

Related Work, Other Labs

Marshall University School of Medicine

South Dakota State University

Recently Completed Project

Drug resistance is a major obstacle in breast cancer treatment

Effect of canola oil on drug resistance in breast cancer treatment

Phase 1

Nude mice fed canola oil or soybean oil diet

Mice injected with drug-resistant cancer cells (DOX resistant)

Tumor development and growth monitored

Phase 2 At 5 x 5 mm, mice were divided into 4 groups:

Soybean oil (SOY)

Canola oil (CAN)

SOY plus DOX treatment

CAN plus DOX treatment

Tumor growth rate was recorded.

0

0.4

0.8

1.2

1.6

2

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7Lo

g s

ca

led

tu

mo

r v

olu

mes (

mm

3 )

Weeks after initial tumor detection

SOY

CAN

Tumor Sizes Before Drug Treatment

*

*

*P < 0.05

0

0.4

0.8

1.2

1.6

2

SOY SOY plus DOX CAN CAN plus DOX

Rela

tive t

um

ore

volu

me

Treatments

SOY

SOY plus DOX

CAN

CAN plus DOX

Tumor Sizes After Drug Treatment

32%

48% 23%

This work has been submitted to the journal Lipids for publication

Publication

Lipotropes Research

Our laboratory has been investigating the role of dietary methyl nutrients (lipotropes) on breast cancer risk

Lipotropes include vitamin B12, choline, folic acid, and methionine

Lipotropes ResearchRecently showed that maternal

lipotropes reduce breast cancer risk in offspring

Supported by department of defense (DOD)

Findings were presented at the Era of Hope conference (one of the premiere breast cancer research meetings)

Based on the lipotropes and canola oil studies, we then began studying the effect of dietary lipotropes plus canola oil on breast cancer risk

This concept is called Lipocan

Ongoing Research

Lipocan

This project is sponsored by the NCGA

The purpose of the study is to gather data to apply for a US patent

This patent is aimed at benefiting NDSU research and NCGA

Ongoing Research

Ongoing Research

We are using cell culture and animal model

Cell culture component is complete

The animal trial will commence on the 21st of Nov 2011

Lipocan Results

Cell Growth Inhibition at 72 hr (%)

Lipocan vs Control 35

Lipocan vs Canola 14

Lipocan vs Lipotropes 25

The first part of the animal trial is to test the lipocan concept on a simple animal model

Mice will be fed the lipocan diet and then injected with a carcinogen to induce mammary cancer as previously mentioned

Ongoing Research

To complete this project, we must include the effect of a maternal lipocan diet on the risk of breast cancer of the babies

Thus, the lipocan project will require 2 years to complete for the US patent application

Ongoing Research

We included the pregnancy experiment based on:

Researchers are focusing on reducing cancer risk of the babies through proper maternal diet and lifestyle

Also, findings on maternal lipotropes and canola oil suggest they both reduce breast cancer risk of the offspring

Ongoing Research

Ultimately, the lipocan data from the 2-year project will serve as the basis for a full-scale NIH grant application

Future Study

Patent:

How does the patent work and how do you stand to benefit from it?

Development of a Lipocan nutraceutical supplement to benefit human health

Direct economic benefits for canola growers

Implications

NDSU recently organized a Moos, Ewes and More event

We presented our canola oil and breast cancer research

The interest from the public was very encouraging

Public Interest

Team

From Left: Dr. Chung Park, Lawrence Mabasa, Sajin Bae, Mark Walters, and Kyongshin Cho

AcknowledgmentsNorthern Canola Growers Association

USDA-NIFA