Stimulation of growth of human breast cancer cell lines in culture by linoleic acid.

Linoleic acid, an omega-6 unsaturated fatty acid, stimulated growth of the MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines in culture. Responses of the estrogen-independent MDA-MB-231 cells both in serum-free medium and with 1% fetal bovine serum added were positively correlated with linoleic acid concentration over the entire range examined (5-750 ng/ml). Growth stimulation of the estrogen-responsive MCF-7 cell line was maximal at a LA concentration of 500 ng/ml when cultured in 1% fetal bovine serum-containing medium with added estradiol. Linoleic acid had no mitogenic effect on three human cancer cell lines derived from sites other than breast, or on untransformed 3T3 cells.