Chemoprevention Trial in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) Coli Using EPA

August 6, 2014 updated by: S.L.A. Pharma AG

A Two-Arm Chemoprevention Trial in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) Coli Patients Using the Purified Free Fatty Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid

This purpose of this study is to investigate whether the number and size of rectal polyps can be reduced in patients with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) by using a highly-purified form of a naturally occurring substance, the omega-3 fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

Study Overview

Detailed Description

It has been found that people who consume a large amount of oily fish tend to have a lower risk of developing colon cancer. This is thought to be due to the omega-3 fatty acids present in oily fish, one of which is EPA. The effect of taking a 99% pure form of EPA (2g per day) compared with placebo capsules on the number and size of polyps in the rectum over a six month period will be investigated.

FAP is an inherited susceptibility to diffuse colorectal adenomas and colorectal carcinoma, occurring in close to 100% of unresected colons. It is caused by a germline mutation in the Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) gene located in the long arm of chromosome 5. To prevent cancer development it is recommended that patients with FAP undergo colectomy with ileo-anal or ileo-rectal anastomosis (or colectomy and end-ileostomy) at a socially convenient time before polyp progression to malignancy and before the age of 25. Patients with the attenuated FAP phenotype, often associated with mutations at the 5' terminus (exon 4 and proximally), have fewer polyps and may often delay colectomy. Patients with an ileo-rectal anastomosis are still susceptible to polyp formation in the remaining rectal stump and require 6 monthly check-ups with a flexible sigmoidoscope with removal of any polyps that develop. Therefore, an effective chemopreventative agent with a favourable side-effect profile would be of benefit to FAP patients with ileo-rectal anastomosis (IRA) and recurrent rectal polyps in addition to young adults who prefer to delay colectomy. If such an agent were to be effective in FAP patients in the prevention of colonic polyps, it may also be of benefit to the larger population of patients with sporadic colorectal adenomatous polyps who are also at risk of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal polyps are thought, at least in part, to arise from an imbalance in the levels of cell proliferation and apoptosis (natural cell death) in the colonic mucosa. It has been suggested that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in fish oil can manipulate the high levels of colonic-mucosal cell proliferation rates associated with colonic adenomas.

The rationale for this trial is based on the increasing evidence linking inflammatory processes and the development of a number of cancers, including bowel cancer. This has focused attention on the role of inflammatory mediators in the development of cancer. In particular, the family of eicosanoids (including 2-series prostaglandins, 4-series leukotrienes and thromboxanes) produced through conversion of the omega-6 PUFA, arachidonic acid, via cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) is believed to contribute to the physiological processes of inflammation and the development of tumours. Prostaglandin E2, a product of the conversion of arachidonic acid via the COX-2 pathway, has been implicated in tumourigenesis through:

  1. promotion of angiogenesis
  2. anti-apoptotic properties
  3. increasing expression of matrix metalloproteinases and hence the ability of a tumour cell to undergo metastasis
  4. altering the cytokine expression profile of cells.

The class of eicosanoid synthesised will depend on the PUFA substrate. Whilst arachidonic acid is converted to 2-series prostaglandins and 4-series leukotrienes, EPA is converted to 3-series prostaglandins and 5-series leukotrienes. Overall, the latter eicosanoids are less potent as inflammatory mediators than those derived from arachidonic acid.

Increasing daily intake of EPA, the omega-3 PUFA analogue of arachidonic acid, alters the balance between the cell content of these fatty acids. This results in reduced production of the more active inflammatory/tumourigenic products of arachidonic acid metabolism. This is supported by the results of recent work at St George's Hospital Medical School, London. In patients with a history of colonic adenomas, daily dosing with a highly purified, free-fatty acid form of the EPA produced a significant reduction in cell proliferation and increase in apoptosis in the colonic mucosa. This preparation of EPA has the proprietary name "Alfa" and is referred to here as EPA.

This proposed study will be based upon the randomised, placebo-controlled National Cancer Institute sponsored study in which three groups of FAP patients were assigned to one of two doses of celecoxib (a COX-2 inhibitor) or placebo. The results showed a reduction in the polyp burden of the group taking the higher (400mg twice daily (bd)) dose. However, there is evidence to suggest that COX-2 inhibitors carry significant potential for side-effects. Adopting a similar design, EPA will be substituted for celecoxib in this randomised, placebo-controlled trial, comparing 2g EPA to placebo, with reduction in polyp burden as the primary objective.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

58

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Middlesex
      • Harrow, Middlesex, United Kingdom, HA1 3UJ
        • The Polyposis Registry, St. Mark's Hospital,

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

16 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Subjects must have a known diagnosis of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) and have had a previous colectomy with ileo-rectal anastomosis.
  • Males or females aged 18 and over
  • If the participant is female and of child bearing potential, she agrees to participate in this study by providing written informed consent, has been using adequate contraception (e.g. abstinence, condom, Intra-uterine device (IUD), birth control pill, diaphragm and spermicidal gel combination) since her last menses and will use adequate contraception during the study, is not lactating, and agrees to undergo a serum pregnancy test at baseline and month 6. Sexually active males must agree to use an accepted method of contraception.
  • Rectal polyp status: the subject has an endoscopically assessable rectal segment.
  • Subjects must show a willingness to abstain from regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication for the duration of the study. A cardioprotective dose of aspirin (75mg) will be permitted.
  • Subjects must have provided written informed consent to participate.
  • Subjects must have assessable rectal polyps post baseline flexible sigmoidoscopy.
  • Subjects must have the following rectal polyp burden at the conclusion of the baseline endoscopy:
  • Rectum - 3 or more quantifiable polyps ≥2mm diameter
  • In the rectum quantifiable polyps are defined as being within a composite "cloverleaf" photograph that includes a tattoo.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Subjects who are due to undergo an anticipated colectomy within 8 months of randomisation
  • History of invasive carcinoma in the past 5 years other than resected Dukes' A/B1 colon cancer or resected non-melanomatous skin cancer
  • Partial or complete colectomy within 12 months prior to enrolment.
  • History of pelvic radiation
  • Subjects who are allergic to fish
  • Subjects who have diabetes mellitus
  • Subjects who are pregnant or breast-feeding
  • Subjects taking aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on a regular basis other than low dose (75 mg) cardioprotective dose.
  • Subjects who have aspirin-sensitive asthma
  • Subjects suffering from haemorrhagic disorders
  • Subjects who are taking warfarin or other anticoagulants
  • Subjects who have significant abnormalities on their screening blood tests
  • Subjects taking lipid lowering medication
  • Subjects with gastrointestinal malabsorptive disease
  • Subjects with known or prior coagulopathy
  • Subjects with uncontrolled hypercholesterolaemia
  • Subjects who are taking other fish-oil supplements (e.g. cod liver oil) who are unwilling to stop them for the duration of the study. Subjects previously taking fish oil must have a washout period of 1 month prior to study enrolment.
  • Subjects who are deemed mentally incompetent, or have a history of anorexia nervosa or bulimia
  • Subjects with a history of alcohol or drug abuse, including laxative abuse which would render the subject unreliable.
  • Subjects considered by their physician unlikely to be able to comply with the protocol.
  • Subjects who have taken part in an experimental drug study in the preceding 3 months.
  • Subjects who have a positive pregnancy test within 14 days prior to baseline visit.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 2g/day Eicosapentanoic Acid (EPA)

Eicosapentanenoic Acid (EPA) as the free fatty acid 2 capsules twice daily for 6 months.

Endoscopy and biopsies taken as described under intervention.

2 x 500mg EPA capsules twice daily for 6 months
Other Names:
  • ALFA
Endoscopy with video and photographs at baseline and month 6.
Other Names:
  • Endoscopy either Colonoscopy or Flexible sigmoidoscopy.
9 biopsies taken at baseline and month 6 from the rectum of normal mucosa for analysis of apoptosis (3 biopsies), cell proliferation (3 biopsies) and mucosal fatty acid levels (3 biopsies). Two biopsies taken at baseline and month 6 from polyps for cell proliferation (1 biopsy) and apoptosis (1 biopsy).
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Medium chain triglycerides 2 capsules twice daily for six months. Endoscopy and biopsies taken as described under intervention.
Endoscopy with video and photographs at baseline and month 6.
Other Names:
  • Endoscopy either Colonoscopy or Flexible sigmoidoscopy.
9 biopsies taken at baseline and month 6 from the rectum of normal mucosa for analysis of apoptosis (3 biopsies), cell proliferation (3 biopsies) and mucosal fatty acid levels (3 biopsies). Two biopsies taken at baseline and month 6 from polyps for cell proliferation (1 biopsy) and apoptosis (1 biopsy).
2 x 500mg placebo capsules twice daily for 6 months

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Absolute Change in the Number of Polyps Measured in a Focal Area of the Rectum.
Time Frame: 6 months compared to baseline.
Absolute change in the number of polyps measured in a defined focal area of the rectum.
6 months compared to baseline.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Percentage Change in the Number of Polyps Measured in the Defined Focal Area of the Rectum.
Time Frame: 6 months compared to baseline.
Percentage change in the number of polyps measured in the defined focal area of the rectum in subjects treated with EPA compared to subjects receiving placebo.
6 months compared to baseline.
Change in Global Rectal Polyp Burden.
Time Frame: 6 months compared to baseline.
Change in global rectal polyp burden in subjects treated with Eicosapentanoic Acid (EPA) compared to subjects receiving placebo. Each reviewer in the Polyp Video Scoring Committee assessed global colorectal polyp burden change as "better", "same as" or "worse". The qualitative assessment was assigned a score of +1 for "better", 0 for "same as" and -1 for "worse". Thereafter a mean overall reviewers score was calculated.
6 months compared to baseline.
Relative EPA Concentration of Total Free Fatty Acids in the Rectal Mucosa.
Time Frame: 6 months compared to baseline.
Relative EPA concentration of total free fatty acids in the rectal mucosa of subjects with FAP.
6 months compared to baseline.
Number of Subjects With Adverse Events.
Time Frame: 6 months compared to baseline
Incidence of adverse events in each treatment group.
6 months compared to baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Nicholas J West, MB BS FRCS, The Polyposis Registry, St. Mark's Hospital,

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

November 1, 2006

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 1, 2008

Study Completion (Actual)

April 1, 2008

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 30, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 1, 2007

First Posted (Estimate)

August 2, 2007

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

August 22, 2014

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 6, 2014

Last Verified

August 1, 2014

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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