Table 3.

n-3 PUFA and breast cancer risk: Xenograft rodent models.

Animal Model	n-3 PUFA Source	Feeding Period	Main Findings	Mechanism	Reference
Athymic nu/nu mice MDA-MB 231	3% w/w fish oil concentrate (10.2 g/kg EPA, 7.2 g/kg DHA, 3.0 g/kg ALA)	7-week (fed after tumor established)	↓ tumor growth rate ↑ effectiveness of doxorubucin	↑ EPA incorporation into tumor ↑ lipid peroxidation in tumor	[30]
Athymic nu/nu mice (NCr-nu/nu) MDA-MB 435	40 or 80 g/kg EPA, DHA	13-week (fed before transplantation)	↓ tumor growth, size ↓ tumor weight	↑ EPA, DHA in tumor phospholipids ↓ LA, AA in tumor phospholipids ↓ AA-derived eicosanoids	[20]
Inbred F44 rats R3230AC	5% marine oil supplementation (18% EPA, 12% DHA)	4-week (fed before transplantation)	↓ tumor weight, volume	↑ EPA, DHA, AA incorporation into tumor ↓ Prostaglandins 2 series	[112]
BALB/cAnN mice Mouse BC cell	10% or 20% w/w menhaden fish oil	7-week (fed before transplantation)	↑ tumor latency ↓ tumor growth rate	NA	[114]
Athymic nude mice MCF-7	19% w/w menhaden oil (1.9 g/kg ALA, 19.4 g/kg EPA, 24.3 g/kg DHA)	6 or 8-week (fed after tumor established)	↓ tumor volume	↑ lipid peroxidation in tumor	[113]

↑: increase; ↓: decrease; NA: not available.