The effect of C18 fatty acids on cancer cells in culture.

The influence of the 18 carbon chain length series of fatty acids on the growth of an SP210 mouse myeloma cell line were tested. The saturated fatty acid (C18:0, stearic acid) exhibited no cytotoxic or cytostatic effects, while the unsaturated fatty acids of the omega 9, omega 6, and omega 3 series proved effective in limiting cell growth. Although an overall concentration dependent cytotoxic effect was demonstrated with cis- and trans-mono- and dienoic fatty acids, within a narrow range of concentrations cell growth was stimulated. cis - C18:3 omega 6 and cis-C18:3 omega 3 showed the most dramatic effects, with ID50 values of 15 mg/ml for both, compared to ID50 values of 35 and 40 micrograms/ml with cis- and trans- C18:2 moeities, and ID50 values of 35 and 25 micrograms/ml with cis- and trans - C18:1 compounds, respectively.