Pieying Yang, PhD

Fish oil (n-3 fatty acids) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma

A growing body of evidence suggests that inflammation is a key factor in the development of cancer including various types of lymphomas. Fish oil, rich in n-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids), has anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of cyclooygenase-2 (COX-2) activity and has the ability to inhibit the proliferation of various lymphoma or leukemia cells. The ultimate goal of this proposal is to explore the role of fish oil in inhibiting the proliferation of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, define the optimal composition of fish oil, especially EPA to DHA ratios, and identify an appropriate molecular target of fish oil. This proposal intends to define a novel targeted natural therapeutic or chemopreventive agent that would offer the best prospect for achieving long–term control of this disease.