MedifocusHealth

A new approach to reducing the occurrence of colorectal cancer is chemoprevention, which seeks to develop interventions that can block, reverse, or delay the process of the development of invasive cancer. Several have been found to have efficacy in reducing recurrent colorectal adenomas and/or cancer. While more than 40 agents or agent combinations have shown some benefit, few of these have been tested in phase II or III human trials.

Four compounds have demonstrated efficacy in reducing recurrent colorectal adenomas and/or cancer in studies:

• Selenium - One study showed a 58% reduction in colorectal cancer incidence with selenium supplementation.
• Calcium Carbonate - Calcium is thought to protect against the development of colorectal cancer by its effects on the mucosa of the colon.
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
• Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) - Aspirin and other NSAIDs have shown some effectiveness in reducing colorectal neoplasia across the entire spectrum of the disease (including adenomas and cancers). COX-2 Inhibitors are newer NSAIDs that have shown a 28% reduction in colorectal and duodenal adenomas, however, they have also been associated cardiovascular risks and gastrointestinal bleeding.

The most promising agents currently being studied include: eflornithine, calcium in combination with piroxicam or Vitamin D, selenium in combination with celecoxib, folic acid, nitric oxide-donating aspirin, atorvastatin, and other substances called inulin derivatives.