EPA for Metastasis Trial 2

A significant proportion of patients who undergo liver surgery to remove bowel cancer that has spread to the liver (metastases) develop disease recurrence and die from the disease. A previous small study (the EMT study) suggested a possible survival benefit in patients who took the naturally-occurring omega-3 fatty acid EPA (a fish oil supplement) before liver surgery. The EMT2 study is a larger study which will recruit 448 men and women with liver metastases from bowel cancer. Trial participants will receive either Icosapent Ethyl (pure EPA derived from fish oil) or placebo (dummy capsules). EMT2 will investigate whether patients who take this supplement before liver surgery and for up to four years after surgery, remain free of recurrence for longer than those who take placebo (dummy capsules)接受肝切除术以切除已转移至肝脏的结直肠癌（肝转移灶）的患者中，有相当比例会出现疾病复发并死于该病。此前一项小型研究（EMT研究）表明，在肝术前服用天然存在的Omega-3脂肪酸EPA（鱼油补充剂）的患者或可获得生存获益。本项EMT2研究为规模更大的临床试验，计划招募448名结直肠癌肝转移患者（男女不限）。试验参与者将被分配服用二十碳五烯酸乙酯（Icosapent Ethyl，源自鱼油的纯EPA）或安慰剂（模拟胶囊）。EMT2研究将评估：在肝术前及术后最长四年服用该补充剂的患者，其无病复发生存期是否长于服用安慰剂的受试者。