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Biochemistry and Microbiology BBSC, 1 John Marshall Drive , Huntington, WV 25755
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Dr. Gabriela Ion |
Dr. Elaine Hardman |
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University post-doctoral researcher Dr. Gabriela
Ion and her mentor, Dr. Elaine Hardman, have received a two-year post-doctoral
research award from the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation.
The award allows Ion to conduct studies to determine how the interactions
between the adipocytes (fat cells) found in breast tissue and breast cancer
cells may be altered by the consumption of omega 3 fat instead of omega 6 fat.
MU graduate student Juliana Akinsete also is taking part in the study.
Hardman, an associate professor in the department of biochemistry and
microbiology at Marshall, said the award is specifically to support the research
of young researchers who plan a career in nutrition/behavior-linked cancer
prevention research.
“This study will be the foundation for further work by Dr. Ion to understand how
dietary change can prevent cancer with a goal of recommendations for cancer
prevention in humans,” Hardman said.
Ion, a native of Romania, said she was very surprised she received the grant.
“It was my first grant proposal and I got it,” she said. “It is a very important
study, which is why I applied for the grant.”
The award, which took effect in January 2007, was announced by the Marshall
University Research Corporation and the Department of Biochemistry and
Microbiology at the Marshall University School of Medicine.
According to Hardman, omega 3 fats are found in fish, leafy green vegetables and
canola oil whereas omega 6 fats are found in corn or soybean products and in the
meat from animals (beef, pork, or chicken) fed those foods.
Hardman said previous research showed that the incidence of mammary (breast)
cancer is reduced and the growth of existing tumors is slower if the diet of
mice or rats includes some omega 3 fat. She said the reduction of cancer risk
due to omega 3 fat consumption does not result from changing one single
significant mechanism but is a combination of benefits from several mechanisms
that together suppress tumor growth. Results of previous studies in mice showed
that a diet containing canola oil instead of corn oil slowed breast cancer
growth, she said.
Hardman said the goal of the new study is to better define the mechanisms for
suppression of breast cancer formation by omega 3 fats.
“In this study we will investigate the effect of canola oil (rich in omega 3
fatty acids) versus corn oil (rich in omega 6 fatty acids) on the communication
between preadipocytes/adipocytes (fat cells) and breast tumor cells,” Hardman
said. “We know that cell signals produced by fat cells can influence the growth
of breast cancer cells. We hypothesize that canola oil and corn oil will
differentially affect cell-cell communication by changing the signals produced
by both fat cells and cancer cells, especially the inflammatory signals produced
by these cells.”
She said the research can open new avenues for breast cancer prevention by a
better understanding of how foods, especially dietary fat, influence cancer
formation.