Improving outcome of chemotherapy of metastatic breast cancer by docosahexaenoic acid: a phase II trial

Br J Cancer. 2009 Dec 15;101(12):1978-85. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605441. Epub 2009 Nov 17.

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer becomes lethal when visceral metastases develop. At this stage, anti-cancer treatments aim at relieving symptoms and delaying death without resulting in additional toxicity. On the basis of their differential anti-oxidant defence level, tumour cells can be made more sensitive to chemotherapy than non-tumour cells when membrane lipids are enriched with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a peroxidisable and oxidative-stress-inducing lipid of marine origin.

Methods: This open-label single-arm phase II study evaluated the safety and efficacy (response rate), as primary end points, of the addition of 1.8 g DHA daily to an anthracycline-based chemotherapy (FEC) regimen in breast cancer patients (n = 25) with rapidly progressing visceral metastases. The secondary end points were time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS).

Results: The objective response rate was 44%. With a mean follow-up time of 31 months (range 2-96 months), the median TTP was 6 months. Median OS was 22 months and reached 34 months in the sub-population of patients (n = 12) with the highest plasma DHA incorporation. The most common grade 3 or 4 toxicity was neutropaenia (80%).

Conclusion: DHA during chemotherapy was devoid of adverse side effects and can improve the outcome of chemotherapy when highly incorporated. DHA has a potential to specifically chemosensitise tumours.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / administration & dosage*
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / adverse effects
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / blood
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Docosahexaenoic Acids