THE CONSULT: A precision medicine approach to colorectal cancer prevention using the omega (n)-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) EPA

Mark Hull talks about the translational research development of the n-3 PUFA EPA as a cancer prevention agent through to phase 2 and 3 clinical trials, touching on design and delivery of trials of ‘nutraceuticals’ like high-dose n-3 PUFAs, and how such an intervention might impact on cancer. Despite proof of concept from a small, randomised trial of EPA in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis, the same dose and formulation of EPA did not reduce overall colorectal polyp risk in the seAFOod polyp prevention trial. Emphasising the importance of the trial tissue biobank, he discusses a secondary genetic analysis of the seAFOod trial, which has uncovered a putative biomarker of EPA response that is more prevalent in people of African and Asian ancestry than those of White European heritage. This highlights the importance of patient diversity in clinical trials. He finishes by discussing latest epidemiological data on dietary n-3 PUFA intake (mainly from fish) and colorectal cancer risk.Professor Paul KlenermanSidney Truelove Professorship of Gastroenterology, Nuffield Department of Medicine; Fellow of Green Templeton College, University of OxfordProfessor Mark Hull PhD FRCP, Leeds Institute of Medical Research, University of LeedsThe opinions of our host and guests are their own; AoP does not endorse any individual viewpoints, given products or companies.