Omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid as a promising inducer of ferroptosis: dynamics of action in prostate and colorectal cancer models

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Abstract

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of programmed cell death (PCD) associated with lipid membrane peroxidation. It has gained attention in cancer research because some tumor cells that are resistant to other forms of PCD are sensitive to ferroptosis. Despite the significant amount of research on ferroptosis, the list of known inducers remains limited, creating opportunities to discover new compounds with clinical potential. Recent studies have shown that long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), can act as ferroptosis inducers. This study examined the kinetics of ferroptosis in prostate and colorectal cancer cells under the influence of erastin and DHA. Differences in the kinetics and mechanisms of action were observed. Moreover, cells resistant to erastin were found to be sensitive to DHA, confirming the potential of further research into its use as an anti-cancer agent.

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About the authors

D. M. Olkhovik

HSE University

Email: snikulin@hse.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

M. O. Silkina

HSE University

Email: snikulin@hse.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

A. V. Razumovskaya

HSE University

Email: snikulin@hse.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

K. V. Klycheva

HSE University

Email: snikulin@hse.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

A. A. Fatkulin

HSE University

Email: snikulin@hse.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

T. A. Kulagin

HSE University

Email: snikulin@hse.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

S. V. Nikulin

HSE University

Author for correspondence.
Email: snikulin@hse.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

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Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
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2. Fig. 1. Intravital micrographs of prostate cancer (1a) and colorectal cancer (1b) cell cultures two days after treatment with erastin and DHA; results of viability assessment using the IncuCyte assay after treatment with erastin (10 μM) and a combination of erastin with ferrostatin-1 (0.5 μM) for prostate cancer (1c) and colorectal cancer (1d) cells; results of viability assessment using the IncuCyte assay upon treatment with DHA (200 μM) and a combination of DHA with ferrostatin-1 (0.5 μM) for prostate cancer (1d) and colorectal cancer (1f) cells.

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