Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) for Women With Breast Cancer in the Neoadjuvant Setting

NCT ID: NCT03831178

Last Updated: 2025-06-26

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: PHASE2
• Total Enrollment: 76 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2019-08-28
• Study Completion Date: 2030-09-30

Brief Summary

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 LCPUFA). N-3 LCPUFA are essential fatty acids in the diet. The majority of n-3 LCPUFA in the diet is alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). While DHA can be synthesized from ALA and other n-3 LCPUFA in the body, endogenous synthesis is low. Consequently, the only way to significantly increase levels of DHA in tissues is by directly consuming this fatty acid. Common sources of DHA are fatty fish, fish oil and omega-3 supplements and fortified foods.

DHA is readily incorporated into membrane phospholipids and induces changes in the properties of the cell membrane including altered fluidity; permeability and membrane transport as well as activity of membrane bound receptors and enzymes.

It is well established that changes in membrane DHA has multiple effects in the body, including modulation of neurological, immune, and cardiovascular functions. In breast cancer, DHA increases sensitivity of breast cancer cells to different chemotherapeutic agents, and in animal models of breast cancer, dietary DHA decreases tumour growth. The investigator's preclinical studies demonstrate that DHA increases efficacy of both doxorubicin and docetaxel, two agents commonly used in the adjuvant setting for breast cancer treatment. Furthermore, DHA mitigates chemotherapy induced weight loss in mice, and reduces paclitaxel toxicities in breast cancer patients, strongly indicating that DHA protects against toxicity in normal tissues. Directly relevant to this study, increased DHA in breast adipose tissue correlates with improved response to chemotherapy, and increased dietary intake of n-3 LCPUFA, including DHA, results in increased DHA incorporation in breast adipose tissue. Lastly, in advanced metastatic breast cancer, DHA supplementation correlated with improved outcomes in a subset of patients. Consequently, the Investigators hypothesize that the therapeutic index (efficacy: toxicity ratio) will be improved with the addition of DHA. In this clinical trial, the Investigators will explore the benefit of DHA supplementation in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early breast cancer.

RESEARCH QUESTION & OBJECTIVES: The Investigators propose to evaluate incorporation of DHA in women with breast cancer in treatment naïve patients in combination with chemotherapy, and assess potential benefit of DHA supplementation in breast cancer patients, using change in Ki67 labeling index (marker of proliferation) as a marker of efficacy. This study will further investigate the relationship between DHA in plasma phospholipids (as a potential biomarker of tumour incorporation) and effect on systemic immune function.

METHODS: Patients directed to receive chemotherapy will receive capsules, each containing a minimum of 400 mg of DHA in the form of DHA enriched triglyceride oil or placebo (corn/soy oil blend) to be taken orally (11 capsules/day, throughout day as preferred by participant) for a total of 5 g DHA or placebo, for 12-18 weeks (84-126 days) beginning at the start of the first cycle of chemotherapy, and continued throughout 4-6 cycles of chemotherapy (3 weeks/ cycle). DHA will be discontinued 21 days after the last administration of cytotoxic chemotherapy. Tumour biopsies at baseline and post surgical removal will be assessed for Ki67 status as well as for markers of apoptosis and stem cell presence (by immunohistochemistry). Blood samples taken at baseline prior to each round of chemotherapy will be assessed for immune markers and plasma phospholipid content.

Conditions

Breast Cancer

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

DHA

Participants will take 11 capsules per day containing DHA-enriched triglyceride oil (1 g capsules containing at least 400 mg DHA) for a total of 5 g DHA/day divided into three times daily with meals or as tolerated.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Participants will take 11 capsules of DHA oil for 12-18 weeks (84-126 days), beginning on day 1 of initial cycle of chemotherapy, and continuing for 4-6 cycles of chemotherapy prior to definitive breast surgery. Study will end when subject undergoes breast surgery.

Placebo

Participants will take 11 capsules per day containing corn/soy oil blend capsules divided into three times daily with meals or as tolerated.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo oral capsule

Intervention Type: DRUG

Participants will take 11 capsules of placebo (corn/soy oil blend) for 12-18 weeks (84-126 days), beginning on day 1 of initial cycle of chemotherapy, and continuing for 4-6 cycles of chemotherapy prior to definitive breast surgery. Study will end when subject undergoes breast surgery.

Interventions

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

Participants will take 11 capsules of DHA oil for 12-18 weeks (84-126 days), beginning on day 1 of initial cycle of chemotherapy, and continuing for 4-6 cycles of chemotherapy prior to definitive breast surgery. Study will end when subject undergoes breast surgery.

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Placebo oral capsule

Participants will take 11 capsules of placebo (corn/soy oil blend) for 12-18 weeks (84-126 days), beginning on day 1 of initial cycle of chemotherapy, and continuing for 4-6 cycles of chemotherapy prior to definitive breast surgery. Study will end when subject undergoes breast surgery.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Women with invasive (clinical stage I, II and III) breast cancer, for whom neoadjuvant systemic therapy with chemotherapy is recommended prior to surgery.

2. ECOG Performance status of 0 or 1.

3. Hematology and Biochemistry assessments (CBC and differential, PTT, PT/INR, AST, Alk Phos, Bilirubin, and Creatinine) within normal range unless determined not clinically significant by the qualified investigator.

4. Ability to take oral medications.

5. Adequate tissue specimen for diagnosis, biomarkers, and endpoint Ki67 assays.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Patients undergoing surgery prior to chemotherapy.

2. Current or previous (within 2 months) daily use (>1 day/week) use of omega-3, fish oil, or other supplements or functional foods containing docosahexaenoic acid (at daily doses > 200 mg).

3. Known allergy to soy or corn.

4. Continued intake of supplements containing Vitamin C, Vitamin E or β-carotene exceeding the DRI, or other anti-oxidant supplements.

5. Symptomatic but untreated cholelithiasis.

6. History of deep venous thrombosis, active thrombophlebitis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, congestive cardiac failure, untreated hypertension, known inherited hypercoagulable disorder.

7. Diagnosis of any other malignancy within the previous year except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer.

8. Medically documented history of a psychiatric disorder that would preclude consent

9. Partial or complete loss of vision or diplopia, from ophthalmic vascular disease.

10. Hypersensitivity to DHA or to any ingredient in the formulation or component of the container.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Alberta

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

AHS Cancer Control Alberta

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

John Mackey, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Cross Cancer Institute

Locations

Cross Cancer Institute

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Countries

Canada

References

Newell M, Mackey JR, Bigras G, Alvarez-Camacho M, Goruk S, Ghosh S, Schmidt A, Miede D, Chisotti A, Postovit L, Baker K, Mazurak V, Courneya K, Berendt R, Dong WF, Wood G, Basi SK, Joy AA, King K, Meza-Junco J, Zhu X, Field C. Comparing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concomitant with neoadjuvant chemotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone in the treatment of breast cancer (DHA WIN): protocol of a double-blind, phase II, randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2019 Sep 17;9(9):e030502. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030502.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 31530611 (View on PubMed)

Douglas CM, Newell M, Goruk S, Courneya KS, Ghosh S, Joy AA, Munhoz J, Field CJ. Exploratory outcomes of the DHA WIN randomized controlled trial: Supplementing women with docosahexaenoic acid did not reduce the impact of neoadjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy on quality of life or exercise behaviour. PLoS One. 2025 May 2;20(5):e0322178. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322178. eCollection 2025.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 40315249 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

IIT-0005

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id