The effect of gamma-linolenic acid on the growth of human osteogenic sarcoma and oesophageal carcinoma cells in culture.

A statistically highly significant growth-suppressive effect of the prostaglandin precursor gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) on MG63 human osteogenic sarcoma and oesophageal carcinoma cells in culture was found. In view of the results reported on the growth-suppressive effect of GLA on cancer cells in culture, on transplanted mammary tumours in rats and in primary liver cancer patients, it would appear that further investigation of the effects of this fatty acid on cancer cell growth both in vitro and in vivo is warranted.