Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Preventing Breast Cancer in Women at High Risk of Developing Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• At increased risk of developing breast cancer, as defined by 1 of the following criteria:
• 5-year Gail risk ≥ 1.7%
• Calculated 5-year Gail risk ≥ 5 times the average for age group, as defined by 1 of the following:
• At least 0.1% (for patients age 20-29)
• At least 1.0% (for patients age 30-39)
• At least 1.7% (for patients age 40 and over)
• Known BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carrier
• Family history consistent with hereditary breast cancer, as defined by any of the following:
• At least 4 relatives diagnosed with breast cancer at any age
• At least 2 first-degree relatives diagnosed with breast cancer at age 50 or younger
• Breast and ovarian cancer diagnosed in the same relative
• At least 2 occurrences of breast cancer and 1 occurrence of ovarian cancer at any age in the same family
• Atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ of the breast by prior biopsy
• History of unilateral ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast
• History of invasive stage I breast cancer in remission (completed local and systemic standard therapy)
• History of ovarian cancer in remission for > 5 years
• Baseline mammogram performed within the past 6 months with an interpretation of not suspicious for malignancy (BIRAD 1-3)
• Not eligible for OR refused standard breast cancer risk reduction strategies (e.g., prophylactic oophorectomy, prophylactic mastectomy, or tamoxifen)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Sex

• Female

Menopausal status

• Not specified

Performance status

• SWOG 0-1

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Absolute granulocyte count ≥ 1,500/mm^3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3
• Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL

Hepatic

• SGOT and/or SGPT ≤ 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times ULN
• Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 times ULN

Renal

• Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL

Other

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Negative pregnancy test
• No underlying medical, psychiatric, or social condition that would preclude study participation
• No other invasive malignancy within the past 5 years except nonmelanoma skin cancer

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• Not specified

Endocrine therapy

• More than 6 months since prior and no concurrent hormonal therapy, including any of the following:
• Antiestrogens
• Estrogen
• Selective estrogen-receptor modulators
• Progestins
• Aromatase inhibitors
• Hormonal contraceptives

Radiotherapy

• Not specified

Surgery

• No prior bilateral mastectomy

Other

• More than 3 months since prior and no concurrent chronic (i.e., > 3 times per week) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, or indomethacin) or cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors
• No prior cancer treatment that would preclude study treatment