Composition comprising a combination of dha and epa for administration prior to commencement of chemotherapy

Abstract

The invention relates to a composition comprising a combination of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The composition can be used for enhancing the activity of chemotherapy or radiotherapy and/or in the prevention or reduction of side effects caused by the chemotherapy or radiotherapy in a patient ill with cancer, the composition being intended for administration to the patient prior to the commencement of a cycle of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

1 . A composition comprising a combination of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for use in the improvement of the efficacy of a chemotherapy or of a radiation therapy and/or in the prevention or reduction of adverse effects caused by the chemotherapy or the radiation therapy in a patient who has developed cancer, wherein the composition is to be administered to the patient not until from 48 to 24 hours prior to the start of a cycle of the chemotherapy or of the radiation therapy, wherein the composition contains from 1.0 g/100 mL to 7.0 g/100 mL EPA and from 1.0 g/100 mL to 7.0 g/100 mL DHA. 
     
     
         2 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the adverse effects are selected from the group consisting of gastrointestinal adverse effects, hematologic adverse effects, reduction in liver weight, neurotoxic adverse effects, adverse effects affecting the heart, inflammatory adverse effects, weight loss, limited function of the immune system, reduction of inflammations or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of solid tumors and nonsolid tumors, wherein the solid tumors are preferably selected from the group consisting of colorectal cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, and stomach cancer. 
     
     
         4 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the chemotherapy comprises a chemotherapeutic selected from the group consisting of 5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, mitomycin, cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, arabinosylcytosine, tamoxifen, irinotecan, oxaliplatin, folinic acid, cisplatin, taxanes, vinca alkaloids, epipodophyllotoxins, synthetic alkaloids, cytarabine, nitrosourea, dacarbazine, fludarabine, ifosfamide, mitomycin C, tamoxifen or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the chemotherapy comprises 5-fluorouracil, wherein the chemotherapy is preferably FOLFOX or FOLFIRI. 
     
     
         6 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the radiation therapy is selected from the group consisting of teletherapy and brachytherapy. 
     
     
         7 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the composition contains further preferred additives selected from the group consisting of medium-chain fatty acids and iron, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the composition contains from 1.0 g/100 mL to 4.0 g/100 mL EPA and/or from 1.0 g/100 mL to 4.0 g/100 mL DHA. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the composition is also additionally administered between 24 hours and 1 hour prior to the start of the cycle of the chemotherapy or radiation therapy, wherein the composition is preferably administered 3 hours prior to the start of a cycle of the chemotherapy or of the radiation therapy. 
     
     
         12 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the administration of the composition is repeated, wherein the composition is preferably administered 2 to 5 times. 
     
     
         13 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the composition is administered prior to each cycle of the chemotherapy or radiation therapy. 
     
     
         14 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein from 5 mg to 250 mg of EPA per kilogram of body weight per day are administered, preferably wherein from 20 mg to 80 mg of EPA per kilogram of body weight per day are administered, most preferably wherein from 40 mg to 60 mg of EPA per kilogram of body weight per day are administered and/or wherein from 5 mg to 250 mg of DHA per kilogram of body weight per day are administered, preferably wherein from 20 mg to 80 mg of DHA per kilogram of body weight per day are administered, most preferably wherein from 40 mg to 60 mg of DHA per kilogram of body weight per day are administered. 
     
     
         15 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of solid tumors and nonsolid tumors, wherein the solid tumors are preferably selected from the group consisting of colorectal cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, and stomach cancer. 
     
     
         16 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the chemotherapy comprises a chemotherapeutic selected from the group consisting of 5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, mitomycin, cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, arabinosylcytosine, tamoxifen, irinotecan, oxaliplatin, folinic acid, cisplatin, taxanes, vinca alkaloids, epipodophyllotoxins, synthetic alkaloids, cytarabine, nitrosourea, dacarbazine, fludarabine, ifosfamide, mitomycin C, tamoxifen or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the chemotherapy comprises a chemotherapeutic selected from the group consisting of 5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, mitomycin, cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, arabinosylcytosine, tamoxifen, irinotecan, oxaliplatin, folinic acid, cisplatin, taxanes, vinca alkaloids, epipodophyllotoxins, synthetic alkaloids, cytarabine, nitrosourea, dacarbazine, fludarabine, ifosfamide, mitomycin C, tamoxifen or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the chemotherapy comprises 5-fluorouracil, wherein the chemotherapy is preferably FOLFOX or FOLFIRI. 
     
     
         19 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the chemotherapy comprises 5-fluorouracil, wherein the chemotherapy is preferably FOLFOX or FOLFIRI. 
     
     
         20 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the chemotherapy comprises 5-fluorouracil, wherein the chemotherapy is preferably FOLFOX or FOLFIRI. 
     
     
         21 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the radiation therapy is selected from the group consisting of teletherapy and brachytherapy. 
     
     
         22 . The composition for use as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the radiation therapy is selected from the group consisting of teletherapy and brachytherapy.