Dr Mark Hull talks to ecancer at ESMO 2026 about results from the phase 3 EMT2 trial, investigating eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer liver metastases.

The multicentre, randomised, double-blind trial enrolled 418 patients who received EPA or placebo, starting before surgery and continuing for two to four years. Although EPA did not significantly improve the primary endpoint of progression-free survival, long-term overall survival findings were encouraging.

At five years, overall survival was 62% with EPA compared with 45.1% with placebo, representing a 32% reduction in the risk of death. EPA was well tolerated, with no excess of adverse events, bleeding or atrial fibrillation, and no detriment to quality of life.

Dr Hull explores the clinical implications of these findings and the potential role of EPA following colorectal cancer liver metastasis resection.