PracticeUpdate: Haematology & Oncology

CONFERENCE COVERAGE 20

Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and dark-meat fishmay improve disease-free survival in colon cancer L ong-chain omega-3 fatty acids and dark- meat fish have been shown to improve disease-free survival in patients with

Among patients with tumours that had mod- erate to high expression of COX2, long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake was associated with 80% improved disease-free survival (HR for the highest vs lowest quartile 0.2 [0.06– 0.76]; P = 0.006). When dietary sources of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids were examined, patients who con- sumed dark-meat fish more than three times per month vs none experienced longer dis- ease-free survival (HR 0.65 [0.48, 0.87]; P = 0.007); recurrence-free survival (HR 0.63 [0.46, 0.86]; P = 0.007), and overall survival (HR 0.68 [0.48, 0.96]; P = 0.04). No other fish or seafood was associated with disease- or recurrence-free survival or overall survival. No other fish or seafood was associated with disease- or relapse-free survival or overall survival. Dr Van Blarigan concluded that long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and dark-meat fish intake may improve disease-free survival in colon cancer, especially among patients with tumours of high COX2 expression.

and fish oil supplements was assessed via a food frequency questionnaire during and 6 months after therapy. Fewer than 5% of patients reported taking fish oil supplements. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for disease- and recurrence-free survival, as well as overall survival, were estimated, adjusting for clinical, sociodemographic, and lifestyle factors. In a subset of 510 patients, the investigators determined whether tumour COX2 expression modified the association between long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake and disease-free survival. A total of 343 colon cancer recurrences and 305 deaths (7 years median follow-up) were observed. Higher long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake after colon cancer diagnosis was associated with 28% improved disease-free survival [HR for highest vs lowest quartile 0.72 (0.54, 0.97); P = 0.03]. The association was driven by reduced risk of colon cancer recurrence (HR for recur- rence-free survival for the highest vs lowest quartile 0.68 [0.50, 0.94]; P = 0.01; HR for overall survival for the highest vs lowest quar- tile 0.79 [0.56, 1.13]; P = 0.17).

colon cancer, with an 80% improvement in patients with tumours exhibiting high cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) expression. This was the finding of a prospective, feder- ally funded cohort study utilising data from the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, Cancer and Leukemia Group B. Erin L. Van Blarigan, ScD, of the University of California, San Francisco, explained that long-chain omega-3 fatty acids may prevent colon cancer progression, but data in humans are lacking. Dr Van Blarigan and colleagues hypothesised that long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and dark- meat fish intake after colon cancer diagnosis would be associated with longer disease-free survival, particularly among patients whose tumours expressed COX2. A total of 1011 patients with stage 3 colon cancer were enrolled in an adjuvant chemo- therapy trial from 1999–2001. Intake of dark-meat fish; canned tuna; breaded fish; shrimp, lobster, scallops, clams; other fish;

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PRACTICEUPDATE HAEMATOLOGY & ONCOLOGY