Inhibition of proliferation by omega-3 fatty acids in chemoresistant pancreatic cancer cells.

Background: Pancreatic cancer-gemcitabine (GEM) chemoresistance has been demonstrated to be associated with enhanced NF-kB activation and antiapoptotic protein synthesis. The well-known capacity of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs) to inhibit NF-kB activation and promote cellular apoptosis has the potential to restore or facilitate gemcitabine chemosensitivity.

Methods: Four pancreatic cancer cell lines (MIA PaCa-2, BxPC-3, PANC-1, and L3.