Linoleate produces remission in canine mycosis fungoides.

Linoleic acid (LA) administered orally as safflower oil (SFO), which is 76% LA, produced remission in 6 out of 8 dogs with mycosis fungoides (MF). Following each feeding of SFO on 5 successive days to a normal dog peak plasma levels of non-esterified (free) LA in excess of 200 microM were observed. No clinical toxicity was observed from the SFO feedings in the normal or MF animals at the levels of SFO (3 ml/kg) used in these studies. However, a marked rise in white blood cells (WBC) and lymphocytes and a marked transient drop in the serum glutamine transaminases SGOT and SGPT was noted both in the normal and MF animals. These effects of LA may be significant for the remission of MF.