Conjugated linoleic acid inhibits peritoneal metastasis in human gastrointestinal cancer cells

Abstract The effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on peritoneal metastasis was examined by in vitro treatment of cancer cells and mouse peritoneal metastasis models. First, cell growth of MKN28 human gastric cancer cells and Colo320 human colon cancer cells was suppressed by CLA in a dose‐dependent manner with an increment in apoptosis. CLA significantly inhibited invasion into type IV collagen‐coated membrane of MKN28 and Colo320 cells ( p < 0.05). CLA‐induced growth inhibition was recovered by the exposure to antisense S‐oligodeoxynucleotide for peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR)‐γ in both cell lines. BALB/c nu‐nu mice were inoculated with MKN28 and Colo320 cells into their peritoneal cavity, and administrated with CLA intraperitoneally (weekly, 4 times). CLA treatment did not affect food intake or weight gain of mice. CLA treatment significantly decreased metastatic foci of both cells in the peritoneal cavity ( p < 0.005). Survival rate in mice inoculated with MKN28 or Colo320 cells was significantly recovered by CLA treatment ( p = 0.0025 and 0.0052, respectively). Protein production in MKN28 and Colo320 cells treated with CLA showed a decrease in epidermal growth factor receptor and transforming growth factor‐α and an increase in Bax. These findings suggest that CLA inhibits metastasis of human gastric and colon cancer cells. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.