Possible Interaction: Gamma-Linolenic Acid and Docetaxel

“Interaction assessment showed that concurrent exposure to GLA plus docetaxel for 24 h resulted in synergism for MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, whereas an additive effect was observed in SK-Br3 cells.”

“Moreover, simultaneous exposure to GLA and docetaxel in the presence of the anti-oxidant Vitamin E also resulted in synergism, suggesting a limited influence of the oxidative status of GLA in achieving potentiation of docetaxel-induced cytotoxicity.”

“The cells were exposed simultaneously to GLA and docetaxel or sequentially to GLA followed by docetaxel for 24 h. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by the MTT assay, and the nature of the interactions between GLA and docetaxel (antagonism, additivity, and synergism) was analyzed by median effect and isobologram analyses.”

“Therefore, our results show that the fatty acid GLA enhances the cytotoxicity of docetaxel in human breast cancer cells by mechanisms other than lipoperoxidation, and that GLA-induced transcriptional repression of HER-2/neu oncogene might be one component of the mechanisms of this interaction.”

“When exposure to GLA (24 and 48 h) was followed sequentially by docetaxel (24 h) a synergistic effect was observed in MDA-MB-231 and SK-Br3 cells, whereas an additive effect was found in MCF-7 cells.”