Lipoxins, resolvins, protectins, maresins and nitrolipids, and their clinical implications with specific reference to cancer: part I

Obesity, insulin resistance, essential hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, renal failure, Alzheimer's disease, depression, schizophrenia, aging, rheumatological conditions and cancer are low-grade systemic inflammatory conditions in which there is an increase in proinflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species, reactive nitrogen species, and proinflammatory eicosanoids, while a decrease in the cellular antioxidants, anti-inflammatory cytokines and certain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and their anti-inflammatory products such as lipoxins (LXs), resolvins (Rvs), protectins, maresins and nitrolipids occurs. This imbalance between the pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules in these diseases suggests that therapeutic strategies directed to suppress inappropriate inflammation may aid recovery from these diseases. It is proposed that both local and systemic delivery of LXs, Rvs, protectins, maresins and nitrolipids, and/or their more stable synthetic analogs, may prove to be useful in these diseases. In this part I of the review, the discussion is centered on the role of LXs, Rvs, protectins and nitrolipids in cancer.