Figure 1.

Metabolic pathway of ω-6 fatty acids. Linoleic acid (LA) comes from diet, and through ∆-6 desaturase enzyme forms gamma-linoleic acid (GLA). Then, an elongase (CE) adds two carbon atoms to form dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) that, with the action of ∆-5 desaturase, produces arachidonic acid (AA). AA through cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes is the precursor of some prostaglandins (PG), as the H₂, I₂, E₂, D₂, F₂ and the thromboxane (TX) A₂ involved in different processes associated with cancer.