DHA Studied as Chemotherapy Adjunct

A recently published study investigated the use of adding an omega-3 fatty acid to chemotherapy treatments of women with breast cancer. Previous research has shown that tumor cells with a high docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content in the cell membrane are more susceptible to chemotherapy treatment. Currently, the lifetime risk of developing invasive breast cancer in women is approximately one in eight. Additionally, it is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States.

In this new study, researchers supplemented women undergoing anthracycline-based chemotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer with the omega-3 fatty acid, DHA. In this study, 25 breast cancer patients with rapidly progressing metastasis (spread of the cancer) to nearby organs were supplemented with 1.8 grams of DHA daily. The women were followed for an average of 31 months to evaluate overall survival and time-to-progression of the disease.

The results showed that the median overall survival time was 22 months and the median time-to-progression was 6 months. However, in the group of women that showed high plasma DHA levels, the overall survival time was 34 months.

The researchers concluded, “DHA during chemotherapy was devoid of adverse side effects and can improve the outcome of chemotherapy when highly incorporated. DHA has a potential to specifically chemo-sensitize tumors.”

Reference:

Bougnoux P, Hajjaji N, Ferrasson MN, Giraudeau B, Couet C, Le Floch O. Improving outcome of chemotherapy of metastatic breast cancer by docosahexaenoic acid: a phase II trial. Br J Cancer. 2009 Dec 15;101(12):1978-85.