Our long-term goal is to develop novel interventions to prevent colorectal tumorigenesis (CRT). The effects of fish oil and its omega-3 fatty acid derivatives DHA and EPA on CRT are controversial: some studies show promotion and others suppression. We found in preliminary studies that fish oil promoted while EPA inhibited colitis-associated CRT. Whether these differences are applicable to sporadic CRT is unknown. This is clinically important because DHA and EPA are widely used as dietary supplements and FDA-approved treatments. 15- lipoxygenase-1 (15-LOX-1) is a critical enzyme for DHA and EPA oxidative metabolism to generate resolvins and their precursors (e.g., 18-HEPE and RvEs, 17-HDHA and RvEs). 15-LOX-1 and resolvins suppress im- portant pathways (e.g., TNF-α, IL-1β) that potentiate aberrant Wnt/beta-catenin (Wnt/B-catenin) signaling, which is a driver of CRT. 15-LOX-1 expression is commonly lost early during human CRT. Whether 15-LOX-1 expression loss reduces resolvin production from DHA and EPA and reduces the effects of DHA and EPA on CRT is unknown. Our preliminary data show that intestinally targeted 15-LOX-1 expression (15-LOX-1-Gut mice) enhanced resolvin production, suppressed APC mutation-driven B-catenin activation and CRT, attenuat- ed DHA-induced CRT promotion, and enhanced EPA-induced CRT suppression. We hypothesize that 15-LOX- 1 expression in colonic epithelial cells is critical for DHA and EPA to generate resolvins and modulate Wnt/B- catenin signaling and CRT. Aims 1 and 2 will determine the effects of 15-LOX-1 gain (aim 1) and loss of func- tion (aim 2) in colonic epithelial cells on resolvin generation from DHA and EPA, CRT, and B-catenin signaling. For aim 1, we will use 15-LOX-1-Gut mice. For aim 2, we will breed mice with intestinal 12-S-LOX transgenic expression with 12/15-LOX knockout mice to target 12-S-LOX reconstitution to intestinal epithelial cells. In both aims, mice will be fed control, DHA, or EPA diet and treated with AOM to induce CRT. Groups will be com- pared for resolvins and their precursors, CRT, cell proliferation and apoptosis, TNF-α, IL-1β, and activated B- catenin levels, and Wnt/B-catenin target gene (c-Myc, Cyclin D1, Axin2) mRNA levels. We will also evaluate the effect of 15-LOX-1 gain of function (aim 1) and downregulation (aim 2) in human colonic cancerous and normal organoids isolated from patients' colonic crypts and cultured with various concentrations of EPA and DHA on resolvin generation, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and Wnt/B-catenin signaling. Aim 3 will de- termine the temporal effects of 15-LOX-1 expression in colonic epithelial cells and in leukocytes on resolvin generation and CRT. 15-LOX-1 transgenic expression will be targeted to intestinal epithelial cells and induced at either initiation or progression phases of AOM-induced CRT (subaim 3A) or targeted to leukocytes prior to AOM-induced CRT (subaim 3B). Mice will be fed DHA or EPA diets and compared for end points described for aims 1 and 2. Our findings will direct efforts to develop interventions to prevent CRT based on understanding of the host factors (e.g., 15-LOX-1) that affect DHA and EPA modulation of CRT.

Project Narrative The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids EPA and DHA, which are found in fish oil, have unknown effects on colon cancer development. The aim of the proposed project is to improve understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which EPA and DHA influence colon cancer development and thereby facilitate the development of better interventions to prevent colon cancer in humans.