Inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B activation in early stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia by omega 3 fatty acids

Targeting the NFκB pathway has been proposed for therapy of various malignancies including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Omega 3 (n‐3) fatty acids consumption reduced NFκB activation in animals. Our pilot study tested the hypothesis that consumption of an n‐3 supplement would suppress NFκB activation in lymphocytes of patients with early stage CLL. The Marshall University Institutional Review Board reviewed and approved the protocol for this study under a Federal Wide Assurance (FWA #00002704) with the Office of Human Research Protections. Following informed consent, participants consumed an n‐3 supplement initially containing 2.4 g n‐3/day gradually increasing to 7.2 g n‐3/day. Blood cell counts and assay for NFκB activation of lymphocytes were performed before n‐3 initiation and monthly afterwards. Lymphocytes from 5 healthy individuals established normal NFκB activation. After n‐3 consumption: (1) n‐3 was increased in both red and white blood cells of all participants; (2) NFκB activation was suppressed in lymphocytes of all patients following consumption of n‐3; (3) expression of 32 genes in lymphocytes was significantly decreased by n‐3 in patients with higher initial NFκB activation. There was no disease progression. Omega 3 consumption suppressed NFκB activation in patients’ lymphocytes and would be expected to slow progression of early stage CLL.