. 2020 Jun 9;21(11):4114. doi: 10.3390/ijms21114114

Table 1.

Summary of experimental and human data on relation between fat type and cancer.

In Vitro			In Vivo			Human Data
Cell Line, Fat Specification	Outcome	Reference	Model, Fat Specification	Outcome	Reference	Cancer Type, Fat Specification	Outcome	Reference
SATURATED FAT
						All cancers	Positive association between high SFAs intake and cancer risk and mortality, respectively	[123,124]
HER2/neu-positive breast cancer cells, PA	Induction of cell cycle delay and apoptosis	[151]	Spontaneous mammary tumours, C3H mice, diet supplemented with PA, SA, MA, and LaA, respectively	No effect of diet supplemented with PA, MA or LaA, respectively	[304]	Breast cancer, high SFAs intake	Positive association	[103,124]
HER2/neu-positive breast cancer cells, PA	Induction of cell cycle delay and apoptosis	[151]				Breast cancer, PA and SA intake	Positive association	[154]
Hs578T human breast cancer cells, SA	Growth suppression via cell cycle inhibition	[161]				Breast cancer, PA intake	No association	[155]
Hs578T human breast cancer cells, SA	Growth suppression via cell cycle inhibition	[161]	NMU-induced mammary tumours, Sprague-Dawley rats, HFD rich in SA	Decreased tumour incidence and increased latency after SA supplementation	[161]
SkBr3 breast cancer cells, LaA	Inhibition of proliferation, apoptosis stimulation	[167]			[161]
MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, capric, caprylic and caproic acids	Cell growth inhibition and apoptosis stimulation	[178]	MDA-MB-435 xenografts, athymic mice, HFD rich in SA	Decreased incidence and multiplicity of tumours	[305]
	Cell growth inhibition and apoptosis stimulation	[178]	Spontaneous mammary tumours, A/ST mice, HFD rich in SA	Growth suppression, increased tumour latency	[306]
HCT-15 colon cancer cells, LaA	Apoptosis induction	[9]	Azoxymethane-induced colorectal cancer, F344 rats, HFD rich in SFAs	Increased incidence and multiplicity of colon tumours, induction of colonic inflammation	[307]	Colon cancer, SFAs intake	No association	[112]
Caco-2 human colon cancer cells, LaA	Suppression of proliferation	[168]	HCT116 colorectal cancer xenografts, nude mice, HFD rich in PA	Tumour growth stimulation	[8]
CT26 mouse colon cancer cells, LaA	Suppression of proliferation, increase in oxidative stress	[169]
HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells, capric, caprylic and caproic acids	Cell growth inhibition, apoptosis stimulation	[178]
Hep3B, SW480, SW620, AGS, BGC-823, HGC-27, 97H, and LM3 hepatocarcinoma cells, PA	Reduced cell proliferation, impaired cell invasiveness	[152]	LM3 hepatocarcinoma xenografts, athymic mice, PA (via gavage)	Tumour growth suppression	[152]
PNT1A and PC3 prostate cancer cell lines, PA	Increased proliferation and migration	[147]	PC-3 prostate cancer xenografts, SCID mice, HFD rich in PA	Stimulated proliferation	[98]	Prostate cancer, SFAs intake	Positive association	[125]
						Prostate cancer, PA intake	Positive association	[154]
						Prostate cancer, PA intake	No association	[155]
						Prostate cancer, MA intake	Positive association	[176]
AsPC-1 pancreatic cancer cells, PA	Increased invasiveness	[148]	Nude mice, HPAF pancreatic cancer xenografts, HFD rich in SFAs	Increased tumour viability	[308]	Pancreatic cancer, SFAs intake, PA and SA intake	Negative association	[127]
MIA PaCa-2, PANC-1 and CFPAC pancreatic cancer cells, PA, SA, LaA	Growth inhibition	[309]		Increased tumour viability	[308]	Pancreatic cancer, SFAs intake, PA and SA intake	Negative association	[127]
Gastric cancer cell lines, PA	Promotion of metastasis	[150]
Oral carcinoma cell lines PA	Increased metastasis	[149]
						Ovarian cancer, SFAs intake	Positive association	[158]
						Ovarian cancer, SFAs intake	No association	[126]
Ischikawa endometrial cancer cells, LaA	Inhibition of proliferation, apoptosis stimulation	[167]
A-431 skin cancer cells, capric, caprylic and caproic acids	Cell growth inhibition, apoptosis stimulation	[178]
UNSATURATED FAT
MUFAs
						Isocaloric replacement of SFAs with plant MUFAs	Decreased cancer mortality	[123]
						Isocaloric replacement of animal MUFAs with plant MUFAs	Decreased cancer mortality	[192]
MCF-7 breast cancer cells, OA	Stimulation of proliferation	[180]				Breast cancer, olive oil consumption, highest vs lowest intake	Decreased risk	[191]
	Suppressed growth and survival	[182]
	Increased invasiveness	[184]
MDA-MB-231, OA	Stimulation of growth and migration	[182]
MDA-MB-231, OA	Increased invasiveness	[184]
BT-474 and SK-Br3 breast cancer cells, OA	Inhibition of Her-2/neu expression	[181]
Caco-2 colon cancer cell line, OA	Growth promotion	[186]				Colon cancer, MUFAs intake	No association	[112]
SGC 7901gastric carcinoma cells, OA	Suppressed growth and survival	[182]				GIT cancer, MUFAs intake	Decreased risk	[124]
HGC-27 gastric carcinoma line, OA	Stimulation of growth and migration	[182]				GIT cancer, olive oil consumption, highest vs lowest intake		[191]
MKN-45 and AGS gastric cancer cell lines, OA	Increased invasiveness	[185]				GIT cancer, olive oil consumption, highest vs lowest intake		[191]
						Prostate cancer, MUFAs intake	Positive association	[125]
						Ovarian cancer, MUFAs intake	No association	[126]
			HeLa cervical cancer xenografts, BALB/c mice, diet high in OA	Increased growth and metastasis	[188]
						Basal cell carcinoma, MUFAs intake	Inverse association between intake and risk	[113]
786-O renal cancer cells, OA	Increased invasiveness	[187]
CAL27 and UM1 tongue squamous cell carcinomas, OA	Induction of apoptosis and autophagy	[189]
PUFAs
ω-6 PUFAs
						Isocaloric replacement of SFAs with LA	Decrease in cancer mortality	[123]
						Colon cancer, PUFAs intake	No association	[112]
MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, LA	Promotion of migration and invasion	[212]	DMBA-induced mammary tumours, Sprague-Dawley rats, diet high in LA	Stimulation of DMBA-DNA adducts formation in mammary gland	[221]	Breast cancer, ω-6 PUFAs intake	No association	[110]
MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, LA	Promotion of migration and invasion	[212]		Stimulation of DMBA-DNA adducts formation in mammary gland	[221]	Breast cancer, higher dietary ω-3 PUFAs / ω-6 PUFAs ratio	Lower risk in Asian countries	[222]
RKO and LOVO colon cancer cell lines, LA	Growth stimulation by low concentrations, grow inhibition by high concentrations	[209]	C57BL/6J mice, diet high in LA	Epigenetic alterations associated with colonic inflammation and cancer	[220]
SW480 and SW620 colon cancer cells, LA	Decreased cell proliferation and viability	[210]	C57BL/6J mice, diet high in LA		[220]
AGS gastric adenocarcinoma cells, LA	Growth inhibition	[211]	CUM-2MD3 gastric carcinoma transplants, NCr-nu/nu mice, HFD rich in LA	Stimulation of invasion and metastasis	[218]
AGS gastric adenocarcinoma cells, LA	Growth inhibition	[211]	OCUM-2MD3 gastric carcinoma transplants, athymic nude mice, HFD rich in LA	Enhanced tumour growth and angiogenesis	[219]
			Oral carcinomas induced by DMBA and betel quid extract, hamsters, high dietary ω-6 PUFAs / ω-3 PUFAs ratio	Tumour growth promotion	[216]
MIA PaCa-2, PANC-1 and CFPAC pancreatic cancer cells, LA	Growth inhibition	[309]	HPAF pancreatic cancer xenografts, nude mice, HFD rich in ω-6 PUFAs	Increased tumour viability, stimulation of liver metastasis	[308]
MIA PaCa-2, PANC-1 and CFPAC pancreatic cancer cells, LA	Growth inhibition	[309]	Pancreatic neoplasia, KRAS transgenic mice, diet high in ω-6 PUFAs	Shortened tumour latency	[217]
PC-3 and C4-2 prostatic cancer cells, AA and LA	Reduced cell proliferation and viability	[207]
T98G glioblastoma cells, AA	Growth inhibition	[180]
ω-3 PUFAs
MCF-7 mammary cancer cells, ALA or ALA combined with EPA and DHA	Decreased viability	[223]	4T1 mammary tumour transplants, BALB/c mice, ω-3 PUFAs enriched diet	Decrease in proliferation and angiogenesis, stimulation of apoptosis	[243]	Breast cancer, highest ω-3 PUFAs intake vs lowest ω-3 PUFAs intake / high ω-6 PUFAs intake	Decreased risk	[254]
MCF-7 cells, DHA	Reduced proliferation	[226]			[243]		Decreased risk	[254]
MCF-7 cells, DHA	Reduced proliferation	[226]	LM3 mammary transplants, BALB/c mice, ALA enriched diet	Inhibition of tumour growth and metastasis	[244]	Breast cancer, fish ω-3 PUFAs intake	Decreased risk in Asian patients	[255]
MDA-MB-231 cells DHA	Pyroptosis induction	[225]	LM3 mammary transplants, BALB/c mice, ALA enriched diet	Inhibition of tumour growth and metastasis	[244]
MDA-MB-231 cells DHA	Pyroptosis induction	[225]	DMBA-induced mammary tumours in offspring of rats fed with diet enriched with ALA or DHA and EPA, respectively, C57BL/6J mice	Tumour growth inhibition, reduced proliferation and stimulation of apoptosis	[245]
HT-29 and CaCo-2 colorectal cancer cells, DHA	Decreased viability	[227]	Azoxymethane-induced colorectal cancer, F344 rats, HFD rich in ω-3 PUFAs	Decreased incidence and multiplicity of colon tumours in comparison with HFD rich in SFAs	[307]	Colorectal cancer, long-chained ω-3 PUFAs	Inverse association between intake and risk	[256]
HCT-116 and Caco-2 cells, DHA	Anti-angiogenic activity	[228]			[307]
HCT-116, HT-29, SW620, DLD-1 colorectal cancer cells, DHA	Decreased proliferation, enhancement of autophagy induced by oxaliplatin	[231]	HCT116 xenografts, BALB/c mice, DHA (i.p.)	Enhancement of autophagy induced by oxaliplatin	[231]
			N-methyl phosphite nitrourea-induced colorectal cancer, rats, ω-3 PUFAs enriched diet	Tumour growth inhibition	[246]
			Colorectal neoplasia, transgenic Apc ^Min/+mice, dietary fish-oil ω-3 PUFAs	Decreased colorectal carcinoma growth	[247]
			MC38 colorectal carcinoma, C57BL/6 mice, ω-3 PUFAs enriched diet	Tumour growth suppression	[248]
MIA PaCa-2, PANC-1 and CFPAC pancreatic cancer cells, ALA, DHA, EPA	Growth inhibition	[308]	HPAF pancreatic cancer xenografts, nude mice, HFD rich in ω-3 PUFAs	Decreased tumour viability	[309]
	Growth inhibition	[308]	Pancreatic carcinoma, KRAS mice, fish oil ω-3 PUFAs enriched diet	Tumour growth inhibition, reduced proliferation	[249]
PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells, DHA	Apoptosis induction	[232]		Tumour growth inhibition, reduced proliferation	[249]
SW1990, PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells, EPA, DHA	Growth inhibition	[235]	PANC02 transplants, fat-1 transgenic mice	Tumour growth inhibition, apoptosis induction	[235]
MHCC 97-L metastatic hepatocarcinoma line	Decreased proliferation, DHA	[236]
			Prostate carcinoma, Pten-knockout mice, diet enriched with ALA	Tumour growth inhibition	[250]	Prostate cancer risk, ω-3 PUFAs intake	No effect	[258]
			Endometrial cancer xenografts, BALB/c mice, dietary ω-3 PUFAs	Tumour growth inhibition	[251,252]	Breast cancer, long-chain ω-3 PUFAs intake	Decreased risk in women with normal BMI	[257]
SKOV-3 ovarian cancer line, EPA	Apoptosis induction	[237]				Ovarian cancer, PUFAs intake	No association	[126]
SKOV3, A2780, HO8910 ovarian cancer cells, ALA, DHA	Decreased viability by ALA and DHA, inhibition of invasion and metastasis by DHA	[238]				Ovarian cancer, PUFAs intake	No association	[126]
A549 non-small lung cancer cells, DHA	Inhibition of proliferation	[233,234]
LLC murine lung cancer cells, DHA	Inhibition of proliferation	[234]
LA-N-1 neuroblastoma cells, DHA, EPA	Cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis	[239]	GL261 glioma transplants, fat-1 transgenic mice	Induction of apoptosis and autophagy	[240]
D54MG, U87MG and U251MG glioblastoma cells, DHA	Induction of apoptosis and autophagy	[240]	GL261 glioma transplants, fat-1 transgenic mice	Induction of apoptosis and autophagy	[240]
G1a, ML-2, HL-60, THP-1, U937 and MOLM-13 acute myeloid leukaemia cell lines, DHA and EPA	Decrease in cell viability	[241]
Molt-4 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia cells, DHA	Apoptosis induction	[242]
TFAs
iTFAs
			Ehrlich tumour, CBA mice, dietary EA	Tumour growth promotion, decreased survival	[273]	Oestrogen-receptor negative breast cancer risk, serum level of iTFAs	Positive association	[302]
CT-26 and HT-29 colorectal cancer cells, EA	Enhanced growth and metastasis	[270,271]				Colon cancer risk, TFAs intake	Positive association	[298,299]
CT-26 and HT-29 colorectal cancer cells, EA	Attenuation of 5-fluorouracil cytotoxicity	[271]	CT26 and HT29 transplants, BALB/c mice, dietary EA	Increased tumour growth and metastasis	[270,272]	Rectal cancer risk, fish TFAs intake	Positive association	[269]
Caco-2 colorectal cancer cells, EA	No effect on growth	[186]
CMT93 murine rectal carcinoma cell line, EA	Increased stemness, attenuation of 5-fluorouracil cytotoxicity	[271]
						Stomach cancer risk, fish TFAs intake	Positive association	[269]
						Prostate cancer risk, total TFAs intake	Positive association	[125]
						Prostate cancer risk, fish TFAs intake	Negative association	[269]
						Pancreatic cancer risk, vegetable TFAs intake	Negative association in men	[269]
						Pancreatic risk, serum level of iTFAs	Positive association in men	[303]
						Ovarian cancer risk, TFAs intake	Positive association	[301]
SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, EA	Growth inhibition, apoptosis induction	[274]				CNS cancer risk	Negative association in women	[269]
LL2 murine lung cancer cell line, EA	Increased stemness, attenuation of 5-fluorouracil cytotoxicity	[271]				Lung cancer risk	Negative association in women	[269]
						Non-Hodgkin lymphoma risk, vegetable TFAs intake	Negative association	[269]
						Multiple myeloma, fish TFAs intake	Positive association	[269]
						Bladder cancer risk, fish TFAs intake	Negative association	[269]
rTFAs
MCF-7 mammary carcinoma, VA	Inhibition of proliferation	[275]	Mammary tumour growth	Growth inhibition	Reviewed in [287]	Breast cancer risk, CLA intake	No association	[297]
MCF-10A mammary cancer cells, VA	No effect	[276]	DMBA-induced mammary tumours in Sprague-Dawley rat offspring, maternal diet enriched with CLA	Decreased susceptibility to tumour induction	[291]	Post-menopausal breast cancer, rTFAs intake	Positive association	[269]
MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, CLA	Growth inhibition	[278,281]
MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, CLA	Potentiation of docetaxel effect	[279]
MCF-7 cells, CLA-gemcitabine conjugate	Growth inhibition	[292]	MCF-7 xenografts, BALB/c mice, CLA-gemcitabine conjugate	Suppression of tumour growth	[292]
SW480 colon carcinoma, VA	Inhibition of proliferation	[275]	CT29 xenografts, BALB/c mice, dietary CLA	Metastasis inhibition	[283]
HCT-116 and HT-29 colorectal carcinoma, CLA	Isomer-dependent inhibition of proliferation, induction of apoptosis,	[282]	CT29 xenografts, BALB/c mice, dietary CLA	Metastasis inhibition	[283]
HCT-116 and HT-29 colorectal carcinoma, CLA		[282]	1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer, Sprague-Dawley rats, dietary CLA	Apoptosis induction	[310]
SW480 colon cancer cells, CLA	Isomer-dependent effect on cell invasiveness	[283]		Apoptosis induction	[310]
			Azoxymethane-induced colon cancer, Sprague-Dawley rats, dietary CLA	Decrease in aberrant crypt foci formation, apoptosis induction	[311]
			Azoxymethane and dextransodium sulfate-induced colorectal cancer, 57BL/6 mice, dietary CLA	Tumour growth promotion	[312]
						Mouth/pharynx cancer risk, rTFAs	Positive association	[269]
DU145 prostate carcinoma cells, CLA	Cell cycle inhibition	[285]	DU-145 transplants, SCID mice, dietary CLA	Inhibition of tumour growth and metastasis	[313]
DU145 prostate carcinoma cells, CLA	Cell cycle inhibition	[285]	R-3327-AT-1 transplants, Copenhagen rats, dietary CLA	No effect on tumour growth	[314]
SKOV-3 and A2780 ovarian cancer cells, CLA	Isomer-dependent suppression of proliferation and migration	[284]
RL 95-2 endometrial cancer cells, CLA	Apoptosis induction	[286]
5-8F and CNE-2 human nasopharyngeal carcinoma	Inhibition of proliferation, induction of apoptosis	[277]
B16-F10 melanoma, liposomes containing CLA and paclitaxel	Growth inhibition	[293]	B16-F10 melanoma transplants, C57BL6/N mice, liposomes containing CLA and paclitaxel (i.v.)	Tumour growth inhibition	[293]	Malignant melanoma risk, rTFAs intake	Negative association in women	[269]
B16-F10 melanoma, liposomes containing CLA and paclitaxel	Growth inhibition	[293]		Tumour growth inhibition	[293]	Non-melanoma cancer risk, rTFAs intake	Positive association	[269]
						Multiple myeloma risk, rTFAs intake	Negative association	[269]
						Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma risk, rTFAs intake	Positive association	[269]

Abbreviations: AA—arachidonic acid; ALA—alpha-linolenic acid; CLA – conjugated linoleic acid; DHA—docosahexaenoic acid; DMBA—9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benz[a]anthracene; EA—elaidic acid; EPA—eicosapentaenoic acid; GIT—gastrointestinal tract; HFD—high-fat diet; LaA—lauric acid; LA—linoleic acid; MA—myristic acid; NMU—N-methyl-N-nitrosourea; MUFAs—monounsaturated fatty acids; OA—oleic acid; PA—palmitic acid; PUFAs—polyunsaturated fatty acids; SA—stearic acid; SFAs—saturated fatty acids; TFAs—trans fatty acids; iTFAs—industrially produced trans fatty acids; rTFAs—ruminant trans fatty acids; VA – vaccenic acid.