The aldehydic metabolites of linoleic acid are cytotoxic against human breast cancer cells.

The cytotoxic effect of aldehydic metabolites of linoleic acid, 13-oxo-tridecadienoic acids, on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells was investigated. The metabolites inhibited the growth of the cancer cells and the effect was dependent on both time of exposure and concentration of the metabolites; 50% growth inhibition occurred at approximately 55 and 33 microM, after 3- and 5-day incubations, respectively. The metabolites had greater cytotoxicity than parent linoleic acid or other polyunsaturated fatty acids tested. The antiproliferative effect was partially reversed by 10 microM of dithiothreitol suggesting that attack on thiol groups in cancer cells by highly reactive alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl moiety in the metabolites was responsible for the cytotoxic actions.