Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) To Prevent Development of Cognitive Dysfunction Due to Chemotherapy

Early Phase 1CompletedNCT02517502

Carol Fabian, MD24 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to determine if a high dose of DHA begun prior to and continued during neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (chemotherapy given prior to surgery) is likely to prevent or lessen chemotherapy induced cognitive dysfunction.

Chemotherapy is often associated with problems of cognitive functioning such as decision making, learning, and memory. These symptoms, collectively referred to here as cognitive dysfunction can appear as early as the first few months after starting chemotherapy and may persist long after chemotherapy and anti-hormone therapy, if any, is completed. Once developed there is no satisfactory treatment for cognitive dysfunction although cognitive retraining and exercise may improve symptoms and/or function; at least for some. Omega-3 fatty acids derived from ocean fish are a new potential preventative treatment against development of cognitive problems which can arise in some individuals during chemotherapy treatment. In doses of 1-2 grams per day it has been found to improve some aspects of cognitive function in healthy adults who have low DHA dietary intake. It has also been shown to improve some aspects of function in individuals with a mild reduction in cognitive ability but not for those with marked impairment. Participation in this study will last about 12 months. Participants will make visits to the study site for both standard of care visits and additional study-related visits. Participants will be randomized (randomly assigned; like flipping a coin) to one of two groups. Neither the Investigator nor the participant will know the assigned treatment.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Cognitive Dysfunction

Interventions

DHADRUG

4 capsules of 400 mg DHA daily

PlaceboDRUG

Matched, blinded placebo

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 65 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of invasive breast cancer (Stage I-III) and are anticipated to start neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (multiple chemotherapy regimens allowed under protocol) * Able to read, write, and understand English and at least have a high school education. * Able and willing to go at least 24-36 hours without narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxants, sedatives, sleeping pills and alcohol prior to their cognitive testing. Participants should not have required chronic sedatives, sleeping aids, or narcotic pain medications on a daily basis prior to their diagnosis. * Willing to complete required study procedures from start of study to approximately 6 months after completion of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Exclusion Criteria: * Women who are currently on omega-3 fatty acid supplements with \> 500 mg of EPA plus DHA daily or 250 mg of DHA alone and or who have chronically been on more than 1 fish oil capsule per day. * Individuals who are not willing to stop fish or krill oil supplements during the study. * Diabetics requiring insulin treatment. * Individuals who are not likely to be able to go for 24 hours without sleeping pills, sedatives, narcotic pain medications, or ativan * Individuals who do not have a high school education or are not fluent in English. * Individuals who have already started chemotherapy for breast cancer or who have previously had systemic chemotherapy for a malignancy. * Women who have already had definitive surgery for breast cancer.

Locations (2)

Decatur Memorial Hospital

Decatur, Illinois, United States

University of Kansas Medical Center

Kansas City, Kansas, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Trial acceptance

Number of potentially eligible subjects who consent to participate in the study.

Time frame: 12 months

Subject retention and trial completion

Number of enrolled subjects who complete all cognitive assessments at all three defined timepoints.

Time frame: Completion of study (~12 months)

Compliance with taking study agent.

Number of enrolled subjects who take at least 70% of prescribed study agent.

Time frame: Completion of study (~12 months)

Number of subjects reporting serious adverse events

Number of enrolled subjects randomized to DHA who report serious adverse events (adjusted for subjects randomized to placebo who report serious adverse events).

Time frame: Completion of study (~12 months)

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Cognitive Ability-General Concerns Questionnaire

Change measured using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-General Concerns). There are a total of 34 questions. Each question has five response options ranging in value from one to five (never to very often). The total score is based on the sum of the responses, multiplied by the number of questions and then divided by the number of questions that were answered.

Time frame: Baseline to Month 12

Change in Cognitive Ability-Abilities Questionnaire

Change measured using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-Abilities). There are a total of 33 questions. Each question has five response options ranging in value from one to five (never to very often). The total score is based on the sum of the responses, multiplied by the number of questions and then divided by the number of questions that were answered.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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