UCLA researchers from the Department of Urology have identified a dietary intervention that may slow prostate cancer progression, offering a promising accessible, safe, and non-invasive approach to managing prostate health.
BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States and the fifth leading cause of death among men worldwide. Many patients with prostate cancer are eligible for active surveillance, rather than surgery or radiation therapy. However, there are currently no dietary recommendations or supplements proven to influence prostate cancer aggressiveness in men on active surveillance. This highlights a critical need to develop evidence-based dietary strategies to mitigate prostate cancer progression in the large population of patients managed with active surveillance.
INNOVATION: UCLA researchers led by Dr. William Aronson conducted a one-year prospective randomized trial in men with prostate cancer on active surveillance to evaluate the impact of dietary fatty acid composition and fish oil supplementation on prostate cancer progression. The study compared a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (e.g. fish oils, nuts, seeds), and low in omega-6 fatty acids (e.g. vegetable oils, butter, baked goods, fried foods). Patients were randomized into either a fish oil (high in omega-3 fatty acids) + low omega-6 diet group, or a control group that did not receive fish oil or diet counseling. Patients underwent prostate biopsies both before starting the diet and at the one year. To assess cancer progression, researchers measured Ki-67, a proliferation marker associated with prostate cancer aggressiveness, metastasis, and mortality. They found that patients following the fish oil + low omega-6 diet, had significantly reduced Ki-67 levels in prostate tissue, indicating a decrease in prostate cancer cell aggressiveness. Based on these findings, researchers are now proposing production of proprietary fish oil capsules with a specific omega-3 fatty acid composition, designed to be taken in conjunction with a targeted diet for men with prostate cancer on active surveillance. This represents a major advancement in the development of scientifically backed dietary strategies to slow prostate cancer progression.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS:
- Dietary supplement to slow prostate cancer progression in men on active surveillance
- Potentially applicable to other cancers that are sensitive to diet
ADVANTAGES:
- Oral supplements are widely accessible and affordable
- Fish oils are already widely consumed and non-harmful
- Can minimize number of patients requiring more invasive treatment options like surgery or radiation
DEVELOPMENT-TO-DATE: UCLA researchers have conducted a prospective randomized trial in human patients with prostate cancer and shown that the proposed regimen (fish oil + diet) reduced a marker of prostate cancer aggressiveness after one year.
Related Papers (from the inventors only): Aronson WJ, Grogan T, Liang P, Jardack P, Liddell AR, Perez C, Elashoff D, Said J, Cohen P, Marks LS, Henning SM. High Omega-3, Low Omega-6 Diet With Fish Oil for Men With Prostate Cancer on Active Surveillance: The CAPFISH-3 Randomized Clinical Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2025 Mar;43(7):800-809. doi: 10.1200/JCO.24.00608. Epub 2024 Dec 13. PMID: 39671538; PMCID: PMC11869882.
Technology-related keywords: dietary supplement, prostate cancer, fish oil, omega-3, omega-6, fatty acids, diets, prospective clinical trial, nutrition, precision health