Grant: Project Grant

Dietary omega-3 fatty acids are believed to have beneficial properties that could help prevent breast cancer. However, recent data indicate that this protective effect on breast cancer risk may be limited to postmenopausal obese women. Possible explanations for this protective effect might come from reduced inflammation, decreased estrogenic activity and improved insulin sensitivity in the breast of obese women but have yet to be confirmed. For the first time, Dr. Diorio's team proposes to examine these obesity-related markers in all components of the breast and with levels of omega-3 fatty acids in fatty breast tissues. The research team will show that these obesity-related markers are linked to breast cancer risk by looking at their effects on breast density, an indicator of breast cancer risk. Looking at changes in breast density is a unique approach, and the best way, to examine if omega-3 fatty acids offer protection against cancer, and so will help to accelerate research. A better understanding of how omega-3s interact with obesity markers in the breast will provide clues as to why the protective effect may be limited to obese women. Our findings will provide mechanistic insights that will help support the design of clinical trials and open the door for testing omega-3s as an approach to reducing breast cancer incidence.