Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Properties of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) and Their Impact on Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Prevention and Treatment

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In our review, we investigate polyunsaturated fatty acids, or PUFAs for short, and their potential role in preventing and treating colorectal cancer (CRC). We are inspired to do this research because CRC is becoming more common, and we are always looking for new ways to tackle it. We aim to shed light on how PUFAs, known for their anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties, might influence CRC. By understanding more about how PUFAs interact with CRC on a molecular level, we could open up new dietary strategies and treatments. This could mean better patient outcomes and a powerful new tool in our fight against CRC. ABSTRACT: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of death from cancer worldwide, with increasing incidence in the Western world. Diet has become the focus of research as a significant risk factor for CRC occurrence, and the role of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has become an area of interest given their potential role in modulating inflammation, particularly in the pro-carcinogenic inflammatory environment of the colon. This work reviews the main types of PUFAs, their characteristics, structure, and physiologic role. We then highlight their potential role in preventing CRC, their signaling function vis-à-vis tumorigenic signaling, and their subsequent potential role in modulating response to different treatment modalities. We review pre-clinical and clinical data and discuss their potential use as adjunct therapies to currently existing treatment modalities. Given our understanding of PUFAs’ immune and inflammation modulatory effects, we explore the possible combination of PUFAs with immune checkpoint inhibitors and other targeted therapies.