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)