Peritoneal metastasis inhibition by linoleic acid with activation of PPARγ in human gastrointestinal cancer cells

The effect on peritoneal metastasis of linoleic acid (LA) was examined using in vitro treatment of cancer cells and mouse peritoneal metastasis models. Firstly, cell growth of MKN28 human gastric cancer cells and Colo320 human colon cancer cells was suppressed by LA in a dose-dependent manner with increment of apoptosis. LA-induced growth inhibition was recovered by the exposure to antisense S-oligodeoxynucleotide for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) or 15-lipoxygenase-1, which converts LA to PPAR gamma ligands. LA significantly inhibited invasion into type-IV collagen-coated membrane of MKN28 and Colo320 cells (p < 0.05). BALB/c nu/nu mice inoculated with MKN28 and Colo320 cells into their peritoneal cavities were administrated with LA intraperitoneally (weekly, four times). The LA treatment significantly diminished the number of metastatic foci of both cells in the peritoneal cavity (p < 0.05). Protein production in MKN28 and Colo320 cells treated with LA showed a decrease of epidermal growth factor receptor and an increase of Bax. These findings suggest that LA inhibits invasion and metastasis of human gastric and colon cancer cells by nondietary administration.