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NCT Number: NCT04682665

Prebiotic Effect of Eicosapentaenoic Acid Treatment for Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases

A significant proportion of patients who undergo liver surgery to remove bowel cancer that has spread to the liver (metastases) develop disease recurrence and die from the disease. The EMT2 study (NCT03428477) is a clinical trial of the omega-3 fatty acid EPA, investigating whether patients who EPA ethyl ester remain free of disease recurrence for longer than those taking placebo. Recent data suggest that the anti-cancer effect of EPA may result from changes to the microbiota (gut bacteria) which lead to an improved anti-cancer response by the immune system. This study will collect biospecimens (stool, urine, blood, tumour tissue) from participants in the EMT2 trial in order to interrogate the microbiome and immune mechanisms associated with EPA treatment, in relation to participant survival. Insights from this study will identify those most likely to benefit from treatment, leading to more targeted, personalised use of EPA.

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Key information

Conditions

Colon Cancer Liver Metastasis Colonic Diseases Colonic Neoplasms Colorectal Neoplasms Digestive System Diseases Digestive System Neoplasms Gastrointestinal Diseases Gastrointestinal Neoplasms Intestinal Diseases Intestinal Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

St James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom

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About this study

Despite advance in the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), it remains the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the US and the UK. The majority of deaths from CRC are related to distant metastases, predominantly to the liver.

There are observational and laboratory data supporting the notion that the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has anti-CRC activity. These include a phase 2 'window of opportunity' randomised, placebo-controlled trial of EPA provided before surgery for resection of CRC liver metastasis (called the EMT study). A signal that EPA improved progression-free and overall survival after liver surgery provided the rationale for the EMT2 trial, which is a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled phase 3 trial of the effect of EPA (started before surgery but continued post-operatively) on CRC recurrence and survival after surgery for resectable liver metastases [ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03428477 and EudraCT Number: 2016-000628-24].

The mechanism(s) by which EPA might influence post-operative survival are not well understood. Recent data support the idea that the anti-CRC benefit of EPA may be mediated by modulating the intestinal microbiota and ameliorating tumour-permissive immunosuppressive mechanisms, including inhibition of the activity of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), as well as reduced synthesis of inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin (PG) E2 and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2). Mice fed with a high-EPA-containing diet demonstrate 1) increased abundance of gut bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus genera that support the host anti-tumour immune response and improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy, and 2) decreased abundance of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-producing bacteria that trigger chronic inflammation and can promote CRC. These data support a hypothesis that a prebiotic effect of EPA abrogates intra-tumoural immunosuppression and ameliorates systemic inflammation to improve survival of CRCLM patients.

EMT2 trial participants are ideally placed to provide biospecimens that can be analysed in order to understand the mechanism(s) of action of EPA given that the laboratory data can eventually be linked to the clinical outcomes from the trial. Biospecimens can be obtained without interference with the EMT2 trial protocol. Stool, urine, and blood samples will be obtained 1) after EMT2 trial randomization, before starting EPA or placebo, 2) just before surgery, and 3) at 6-monthly intervals thereafter, plus liver metastases tumour tissue during surgery. Using these biospecimens, the microbiome and immune pathways altered by EPA will be investigated in relation to participant survival. Mechanistic insights about the anti-CRC activity of EPA from the biospecimen collection project will maximize the knowledge and insights gained from the EMT2 trial and its participants, thereby leading to personalized use of EPA, which will be targeted at those most likely to benefit.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Only individuals who have already been enrolled in the EMT2 trial are eligible for inclusion in the biospecimen collection study.

Exclusion criteria

  • There are NO exclusions for entry to the biospecimen collection study if an individual has already been recruited to the EMT2 trial.

Treatment and study plan

Icosapent Ethyl Oral Capsule

Drug

Soft gelatin capsules containing 1g pure EPA-EE. Administered as 4g per day to be taken as 2 capsules in the morning and 2 capsules in the evening.

Placebo

Other

Soft gelatin capsules containing light mineral oil. 4 capsules to be taken per day (2 in the morning and 2 in the evening).

Primary outcomes

  1. Abundance of individual bacterial taxa in the gut microbiome (eg. Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Fusobacterium) in stool samples.

    Time frame: A) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and before liver surgery. B) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and 6 months after liver surgery. C) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and time points up to two years follow up.

    16S rRNA and metagenomic methods

  2. Microbial gene expression in stool samples

    Time frame: A) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and before liver surgery. B) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and 6 months after liver surgery. C) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and time points up to two years follow up.

    Bacterial gene expression analysis

  3. Levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids and lipid mediators in stool samples

    Time frame: A) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and before liver surgery. B) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and 6 months after liver surgery. C) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and time points up to two years follow up.

    Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric measurement of lipids

  4. Relationship between changes in the gut microbiome induced by EPA and survival of patients

    Time frame: A) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and before liver surgery. B) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and 6 months after liver surgery. C) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and time points up to two years follow up.

    16S rRNA and metagenomic methods

  5. Treg cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells in colorectal cancer liver metastasis tissue

    Time frame: A) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and before liver surgery. B) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and 6 months after liver surgery. C) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and time points up to two years follow up.

    Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry for immune cell populations

  6. Levels of expression of immune checkpoint regulators in colorectal cancer liver metastasis tissue

    Time frame: A) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and before liver surgery. B) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and 6 months after liver surgery. C) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and time points up to two years follow up.

    Immunohistochemistry for CTLA-4, TIGIT, TIM-3, PD-1 in colorectal cancer liver metastasis tissue

  7. Blood levels of chemokines and lipid mediators

    Time frame: A) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and before liver surgery. B) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and 6 months after liver surgery. C) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and time points up to two years follow up.

    Immunoassay and mass spectrometry of chemokines (plasma CCL2) and lipid metabolites (urinary PGE-M)

  8. Effect of human faecal samples from patients treated with EPA or placebo on tumour burden in gnotobiotic mice with colorectal cancer liver metastasis

    Time frame: A) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and before liver surgery. B) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and 6 months after liver surgery. C) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and time points up to two years follow up.

    Liver tumour size

  9. Effect of human faecal samples from patients treated with EPA or placebo on anti-tumour immune response in gnotobiotic mice with colorectal cancer liver metastasis

    Time frame: A) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and before liver surgery. B) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and 6 months after liver surgery. C) Change between baseline (pre-treatment) and time points up to two years follow up.

    Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry for immune cell populations and cytokine/chemokine levels

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Leeds

Other

Collaborators

  • Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)
  • Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • University of Bradford

Registry information

Official study title

Biospecimen Collection for:Prebiotic Effect of Eicosapentaenoic Acid Treatment for Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Dec 24, 2020
Registry last updated
Dec 4, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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