Comparing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concomitant with neoadjuvant chemotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone in the treatment of breast cancer (DHA WIN): protocol of a double-blind, phase II, randomised controlled trial

What is it about?

Breast cancer continues to be a leading cause of cancer related death in women worldwide. Improving treatment options to improve patient outcomes without increasing side effects would be beneficial to the women fighting this disease. Docosahexaenoic acid, commonly referred to as DHA, is an omega-3 fatty acid that we can obtain through diet or supplementation. Supplementing with DHA has been shown to reduce growth and increase death of breast cancer tumor cells in many pre-clinical models. The purpose of this study is to determine in a controlled trial if DHA can improve the efficacy of chemotherapy for women receiving chemotherapy before surgical removal of the tumor. Women newly diagnosed with breast cancer will take DHA supplements or a vegetable oil placebo throughout their chemotherapy regimen and will be assessed for changes in tumor growth, amount of DHA taken up into their blood and if DHA improves their immune response. We predict that DHA will have a beneficial impact on this population of women.

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