Effects of EPA in Men With Biochemical Recurrence or Progression of Prostate Cancer. (NCT03753334) | Clinical Trial Compass
Active — Not RecruitingPhase 2
Effects of EPA in Men With Biochemical Recurrence or Progression of Prostate Cancer.
Canada39 participantsStarted 2017-07-10
Plain-language summary
Prostate cancer biochemical recurrence (BCR) occurs in 20-50% of patients following radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy. Due to significant risk of side effects and uncertainty about the benefits, physicians and patients are seeking alternatives to delay androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for non-metastatic BCR. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (LCn3), mainly found in seafood and fatty fish, have beneficial effects against prostate cancer in pre-clinical experimental studies and randomized clinical trials of intermediate prostate cancer outcomes. The current observational evidence also supports testing LCn3 in prostate cancer patients. LCn3 have beneficial effects on inflammation, cardiovascular, psychological, and other outcomes, contrasting sharply with ADT-associated side effects.
Investigators propose to conduct a pilot randomized placebo-controlled trial to determine the effects over one year of an innovative LCn3 supplement (5g of omega-3-rich fish oil daily, including 4g of monoglycerides eicosapentaenoic acid (MAG-EPA)) in 40 men experiencing BCR or prostate cancer progression after a curative treatment.
This project proposes a simple intervention by dietary supplementation that could eventually help to prevent or delay ADT-related side effects and thus could contribute to diminish the heavy individual and societal burden of prostate cancer. The clinical data generated by this pilot trial will serve as basis for a larger-scale phase II clinical trial.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 100 Years
Sex
MALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Patients must have a histologically or cytologically confirmed history of adenocarcinoma of the prostate.
* Patients must have a PSA failure defined as PSA of \>= 0.5 ng/ml that has increased above nadir following radical prostatectomy (RP); or a PSA increase of 2.0 above post-therapy nadir after radiotherapy (RT); or a PSA increase between 0.05-0.49 ng/ml that has increased above nadir following RP. The maximal PSA value at enrolment must be \<5.0 ng/mL after RP and \<6 ng/mL after RT.
* PSA value must be increasing based on three consecutive measurements each separated by at least 4 weeks prior to enrolment to this study.
* Patients may have received any number of local therapies (RP, external beam RT or brachytherapy).
* Provide written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Patients with evidence of metastatic disease.
* Patients who have received prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for recurrent disease.
* Patients currently receiving biological response modifiers, or corticosteroids.
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness or social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
* Use of omega-3 or any other dietary supplements for the previous 3 months and during study is not allowed.
* Known allergy to fish or shellfish or sunflower.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time from baseline to 12 months.