Materials and methods for treating and preventing Her-2/neu overexpressing, FAS-elevated cancer cells

摘要

The invention provides methods for treating cancer cells overexpressing Her-2/neu, the product of the erbB-2 gene, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an unsaturated fatty acid. The cancer cells amenable to treatment exhibit relatively elevated activity levels of fatty acid synthase. Exemplary fatty acids useful in the methods of the invention include ω-9 monounsaturated fatty acids (e.g., oleic acid), ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g., γ-linolenic acid) and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g., α-linolenic acid). The invention also provides methods of preventing cancer comprising administering a prophylactically effective amount of a fatty acid and kits for preventing and/or treating cancer comprising a fatty acid and a conventional anti-cancer therapeutic.