OMega-3 Fatty Acid for the Immune Modulation of Colorectal Cancer (OMICC)

OMICC: OMega-3 Fatty Acid for the Immune Modulation of Colorectal Cancer

This is a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial to assess the effects of daily 4-gram marine omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (MO3PUFA), through treatment with AMR101 (VASCEPA, icosapent ethyl) on the tumor immune microenvironment and gut microbiome in patients who are diagnosed with colorectal cancer or with a colorectal mass or polyp suspected to be a cancer or advanced adenoma and will undergo surgical resection or interventional endoscopy at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). It uses the novel "window-of-opportunity" clinical trial design to take advantage of the window of time between cancer/mass/polyp diagnosis and surgery to examine the effect of therapeutic agents on tumor pathologic and molecular features unperturbed by prior therapies.

Study Overview

• Status: Withdrawn
• Conditions: Colon Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: AMR101 (VASCEPA, icosapent ethyl)

Detailed Description

This research study is evaluating the effect of AMR101, as a chemopreventive agent to reduce risk of colorectal cancer in individuals with a history of colorectal cancer, colorectal mass or polyp(s).

AMR101 is made of marine omega-3 fatty acid, which is a family of natural substances found in the oil of certain fish, such as salmon and mackerel. Marine omega-3 fatty acid cannot be produced in sufficient amount by the human body and has to be obtained through diet or supplemented to maintain normal function in the body.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved AMR101 as a treatment for any disease. AMR101 is commercially available in the US as VASCEPA (icosapent ethyl).

The research study procedures include screening for eligibility and study treatment including evaluations and follow up visits during which participants will complete a lifestyle questionnaire and a nutritional survey. A drug diary will be provided to be completed. Measurements will be taken, and blood and stool specimens will be collected. Tumor, colorectal mass, or polyp tissue will be collected for research purposes at the time of surgery or interventional endoscopy.

AMR101 administered daily, orally for up to 30 days and it is expected that 36 participants will take part in this study.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
      • Massachusetts General Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria

Participants must meet the following criteria on screening examination to be eligible to participate in the study:

Participants have histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the colon that is localized, with no evidence of distant metastasis (stage I, II, or III), and for which surgical resection of the primary tumor is being planned;

OR

Participants may have a colon biopsy that is suspicious for adenocarcinoma if clinical and/or endoscopic findings strongly support the presence of malignancy, and if surgical resection is being planned. NOTE: In the unlikely event that the final pathology of the surgical resection specimen is consistent with high-grade adenoma or dysplasia, the patient will not be considered ineligible and collected research samples will still be utilized.

OR

Participants have a diagnosis of a colorectal mass or polyp suspected to be a cancer or advanced adenoma at the most recent colonoscopy and are being referred to an advanced endoscopist to undergo interventional endoscopy within 30 days.

Age >= 18 years

This study will only include adult participants because colorectal carcinogenesis in children is more likely to be related to a cancer predisposition syndrome with distinct biological mechanisms compared with sporadic colorectal cancer in adults.

ECOG performance status ≤2 (Karnofsky ≥60%, see Appendix A)

Patients must be sufficiently healthy to undergo surgery/interventional endoscopy.

The effects of AMR101 on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.

Subjects must be able and willing to follow study procedures and instructions.

Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria

Participants who exhibit any of the following conditions at screening will not be eligible for admission into the study.

Prior systemic or radiotherapy treatment for colorectal cancer.

Participants who are receiving any other investigational agents.

Concurrent use of other anti-cancer therapy, including chemotherapy agents, targeted agents, biological agents, immunotherapy, or investigational agents not otherwise specified in this protocol.

Inability or unwillingness to swallow pills.

History of malabsorption or uncontrolled vomiting or diarrhea, or any other disease that could interfere with absorption of oral medications.

History of allergic reactions attributed to fish or compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to MO3PUFA.

Currently using or have used any fish oil supplement at any dose more than once per week within the last month.

Regularly consuming more than three servings of fish per week.

Known bleeding tendency/condition (e.g. von Willebrand disease)

Current use of anticoagulants or antiplatelet therapies, including aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, including Ibuprofen [Advil, Motrin], Naproxen [Aleve, Anaprox DS, Naprosyn], and Celecoxib [Celebrex]), Heparin, Warfarin, Dalteparin sodium, Bivalirudin, Argatroban, Lepirudin, Heparin Sodium, Heparin/Dextrose, and an unwillingness or inability to discontinue anticoagulants.

Any uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that, in the opinion of the investigator, may increase the risks associated with study participation or study treatment, limit compliance with study requirements, or interfere with the interpretation of study results.

Pregnant or breastfeeding.

The effects of AMR101 on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason, women of child-bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Similarly, lactating women are excluded from this study because there is an unknown but potential risk of adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with AMR101. Consequently, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is enrolled on the study.

Presence of synchronous (at the same time) malignancy for which the patient is currently receiving active treatment.

Known positive test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus, or acute or chronic hepatitis B infection.

Participants with these infections are ineligible because they are at increased risk of significant complications in the perioperative period, and because fresh tissue from patients with these infections cannot be harvested for research purposes, per institutional policy. Appropriate studies will be undertaken in participants receiving combination antiretroviral therapy when indicated.

Inclusion of Women and Minorities

Women and minorities will be eligible for this study without alteration in eligibility criteria. Enrollment of these underrepresented populations to this trial will be encouraged.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: QUADRUPLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Omega-3 treatment; Daily 4-gram marine omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (MO3PUFA), through treatment with AMR101 (VASCEPA, icosapent ethyl)	Drug: AMR101 (VASCEPA, icosapent ethyl); Oral administration, 4 grams per day; Other Names: Omega-3 fatty acid
PLACEBO_COMPARATOR: Placebo; Identical placebo	Drug: AMR101 (VASCEPA, icosapent ethyl); Oral administration, 4 grams per day; Other Names: Omega-3 fatty acid

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The change in the marine omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (MO3PUFA) composition in colorectal tissues as a result of the AMR101 treatment for up to 30 days.	The effect of daily 4-gram AMR101 treatment on MO3PUFA composition in colorectal tissue will be measured through the extraction of fatty acid with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry from the biopsy tissue.	An average of 2 years after study completion

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The change in Tumor CD8+ T cells in the tumor tissue between pre- and post- AMR101 treatment period.	The influence of MO3PUFA treatment on the balance of Teff and Treg cells will be measured by the ratio of CD8+/Treg in the tumor microenvironment.	An average of 2 years after study completion
The change in gene expression profile of colorectal tissue between pre- and post- AMR101 treatment period.	RNA-seq analysis to profile gene expression in the mucosal tissue collected before and after AMR101 treatment will be performed to examine whether the AMR101 treatment reduces the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines (e.g., TNFα, IL6 and CCL2), and immunosuppressive factors.	An average of 2 years after study completion
The change in protein levels of FOXP3 in the tumor tissue between pre- and post- AMR101 treatment period.	The changes in protein levels of T cell inhibitory markers will be measured before and after intervention.	An average of 2 years after study completion
The change in protein levels of IL10 in the tumor tissue between pre- and post- AMR101 treatment period.	The changes in protein levels of T cell inhibitory markers will be measured before and after intervention.	An average of 2 years after study completion
The change in protein levels of LAG-3 in the tumor tissue between pre- and post- AMR101 treatment period.	The changes in protein levels of T cell inhibitory markers will be measured before and after intervention.	An average of 2 years after study completion
The change in protein levels of CD49b in the tumor tissue between pre- and post- AMR101 treatment period.	The changes in protein levels of T cell inhibitory markers will be measured before and after intervention.	An average of 2 years after study completion
The change in protein levels of CTLA-4 in the tumor tissue between pre- and post- AMR101 treatment period.	The changes in protein levels of T cell immune checkpoints will be measured before and after intervention.	An average of 2 years after study completion
The change in protein levels of TIGIT in the tumor tissue between pre- and post- AMR101 treatment period.	The changes in protein levels of T cell immune checkpoints will be measured before and after intervention.	An average of 2 years after study completion
The change in protein levels of TIM-3 in the tumor tissue between pre- and post- AMR101 treatment period.	The changes in protein levels of T cell immune checkpoints will be measured before and after intervention.	An average of 2 years after study completion
The change in protein levels of PD-1 in the tumor tissue between pre- and post- AMR101 treatment period.	The changes in protein levels of T cell immune checkpoints will be measured before and after intervention.	An average of 2 years after study completion
The change in protein levels of PD-L1 in the tumor tissue between pre- and post- AMR101 treatment period.	The changes in protein levels of T cell immune checkpoints will be measured before and after intervention.	An average of 2 years after study completion
The change in the gut microbiome composition and function between pre- and post- AMR101 treatment period	Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing of microbial DNA and RNA on pre- and post-treatment stool samples will be performed to examine the biomolecular mechanisms by which gut microbial activity may be altered or respond to AMR101 treatment	An average of 2 years after study completion

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital
• Collaborators: Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Hang D, Kvaerner AS, Ma W, Hu Y, Tabung FK, Nan H, Hu Z, Shen H, Mucci LA, Chan AT, Giovannucci EL, Song M. Coffee consumption and plasma biomarkers of metabolic and inflammatory pathways in US health professionals. Am J Clin Nutr. 2019 Mar 1;109(3):635-647. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy295.
• Kvaerner AS, Hang D, Giovannucci EL, Willett WC, Chan AT, Song M. Trajectories of body fatness from age 5 to 60 y and plasma biomarker concentrations of the insulin-insulin-like growth factor system. Am J Clin Nutr. 2018 Aug 1;108(2):388-397. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy103.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): November 30, 2019
• Primary Completion (ANTICIPATED): November 30, 2021
• Study Completion (ANTICIPATED): November 30, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 31, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 6, 2018
• First Posted (ACTUAL): September 7, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): November 17, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 10, 2021
• Last Verified: November 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Nutrition; Gut microbiota; Fish oil; Tumor microenvironment; Immune response; Omega-3 fatty acid; Polyp
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Digestive System Neoplasms; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Colonic Diseases; Intestinal Diseases; Intestinal Neoplasms; Rectal Diseases; Colorectal Neoplasms; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Lipid Regulating Agents; Eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester
• Other Study ID Numbers: 18-097

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No