A RECENT Phase II clinical trial has revealed promising results for men with low-grade prostate cancer on active surveillance (AS). The study, which involved 100 participants, tested whether a high omega-3, low omega-6 diet with fish oil (D + FO) could reduce prostate cancer progression as measured by the Ki-67 index, a biomarker of cell proliferation.
The men were randomly assigned to either the D + FO group or a control group, with prostate biopsies taken at baseline and again after one year. Results showed a significant decrease in Ki-67 index in the D + FO group, with a reduction of approximately 15% from baseline (1.34%) to 1 year (1.14%). In contrast, the control group experienced a 24% increase in Ki-67 index during the same period, from 1.23% to 1.52%.
The reduction in Ki-67 in the D + FO group was statistically significant (P = .043), suggesting that omega-3 supplementation may slow tumor growth in men with prostate cancer under AS. However, secondary outcomes such as tumor grade, length, Decipher genomic score, and prostate-specific antigen levels showed no significant differences between the groups.
While the intervention appears promising, four patients in the D + FO group were withdrawn due to adverse events related to fish oil. These findings provide a strong rationale for future phase III trials to further explore the potential of dietary omega-3 supplementation in prostate cancer management.
Reference: Aronson WJ et al. High Omega-3, Low Omega-6 Diet With Fish Oil for Men With Prostate Cancer on Active Surveillance: The CAPFISH-3 Randomized Clinical Trial. JCO. 2024. doi: 10.1200/JCO.24.00608.
Anaya Malik | AMJ
