What can help to prevent colorectal cancer?
updated on April 19, 2007
Most colon cancers arise as results of a series of genetic mutations from normal colonic epithelium to invasive
carcinoma, with adenomatous polyps as an intermediate step.
Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality. Adjuvant treatment does not seem to be
highly effective and recurrent or metastatic disease occurs in half of the new cases within one year of diagnosis and
median survival does not exceed 18 months and the 5-year survival rate in the United States in only 62%. [1,2].
Screening Methods
Screening procedures are important to prevent the disease and they include fecal occult blood, flexible
sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and double contrast barium enema), computed tomographic colonography (virtual
colonoscopy) and stool-based molecular screening. [1]
Chemo-prevention
Chemoprevention refers to the use of natural or synthetic chemical agents to reverse, suppress, or to delay the
process of carcinogenesis. Chemoprevention is a particularly useful method in the management of patients at high
risk for the development of specific cancers based on inborn genetic susceptibility, the presence of
cancer-associated disease, or other known risk factors. Chemo-preventive compounds for colorectal cancer can be
divided into four groups: [a] selenium, folic acid, vitamin D, [b] calcium, magnesium [3], [c] oestrogens or hormone
replacement therapy, [d] 5-aminosalicylic acid [4] and [e] nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin
[1,2,6]. The mechanisms of action of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include inhibition of the cyclooxygenase
system and cyclooxygenase-independent effects [1].
Diet Approach
Considering the fact that the cause of the colorectal cancer (CRC) involves cell molecular changes and
environmental factors. Researchers have studied intensively on how diet linked to neoplasia induction (cancer cell
development) [9]. In general, they recommend body weight management, exercise, an increase of plant food (e.g.
wheat bran, aged garlic, lysine, proline, arginine, ascorbic acid, and green tea extracts) folate and methionine
consumption and a decrease of red meat, alcohol and cigarette consumption [7- 11].
References
[1] Hawk ET and Levin B, Colorectal cancer prevention, J Clin Oncol. 2005 Jan 10;23(2):378-91.
[2] Serrano D et al, Chemoprevention of colorectal cancer: an update., Tech Coloproctol. 2004 Dec;8 Suppl
2:s248-52
[3] Larsson SC, Magnesium intake in relation to risk of colorectal cancer in women, JAMA. 2005 Jan 5;293(1):86-9.
[4] Cheng Y et al, 5-aminosalicylic acid is an attractive candidate agent for chemoprevention of colon cancer in
patients with inflammatory bowel disease. World J Gastroenterol. 2005 Jan 21;11(3):309-14.
[5] Sandler RS. Calcium supplements to prevent colorectal adenomas, Am J Gastroenterol. 2005 Feb;100(2):395-6.
[6] Gill S and Sinicrope FA. Colorectal cancer prevention: is an ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure? Semin
Oncol. 2005 Feb;32(1):24-34.
[7] Chao A et al, Meat consumption and risk of colorectal cancer. JAMA. 2005 Jan 12;293(2):172-82.
[8] Roomi MW et al , In vivo antitumor effect of ascorbic acid, lysine, proline and green tea extract on human colon
cancer cell HCT 116 xenografts in nude mice: evaluation of tumor growth and immunohistochemistry. Oncol Rep.
2005 Mar;13(3):421-5.
[9] Campos FG et al, Diet and colorectal cancer: current evidence for etiology and prevention. Nutr Hosp. 2005
Jan-Feb;20(1):18-25.
[10]Qu H et al, Lignans Are Involved in the Antitumor Activity of Wheat Bran in Colon Cancer SW480 Cells. J Nutr.
2005 Mar;135(3):598-602.
[11] Tanaka S et al, Effects of aged garlic extract (AGE) on colorectal adenomas: a double-blinded study. Hiroshim
a J Med Sci. 2004 Dec;53(3-4):39-45.
updated on April 19, 2007
Most colon cancers arise as results of a series of genetic mutations from normal colonic epithelium to invasive
carcinoma, with adenomatous polyps as an intermediate step.
Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality. Adjuvant treatment does not seem to be
highly effective and recurrent or metastatic disease occurs in half of the new cases within one year of diagnosis and
median survival does not exceed 18 months and the 5-year survival rate in the United States in only 62%. [1,2].
Screening Methods
Screening procedures are important to prevent the disease and they include fecal occult blood, flexible
sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and double contrast barium enema), computed tomographic colonography (virtual
colonoscopy) and stool-based molecular screening. [1]
Chemo-prevention
Chemoprevention refers to the use of natural or synthetic chemical agents to reverse, suppress, or to delay the
process of carcinogenesis. Chemoprevention is a particularly useful method in the management of patients at high
risk for the development of specific cancers based on inborn genetic susceptibility, the presence of
cancer-associated disease, or other known risk factors. Chemo-preventive compounds for colorectal cancer can be
divided into four groups: [a] selenium, folic acid, vitamin D, [b] calcium, magnesium [3], [c] oestrogens or hormone
replacement therapy, [d] 5-aminosalicylic acid [4] and [e] nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin
[1,2,6]. The mechanisms of action of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include inhibition of the cyclooxygenase
system and cyclooxygenase-independent effects [1].
Diet Approach
Considering the fact that the cause of the colorectal cancer (CRC) involves cell molecular changes and
environmental factors. Researchers have studied intensively on how diet linked to neoplasia induction (cancer cell
development) [9]. In general, they recommend body weight management, exercise, an increase of plant food (e.g.
wheat bran, aged garlic, lysine, proline, arginine, ascorbic acid, and green tea extracts) folate and methionine
consumption and a decrease of red meat, alcohol and cigarette consumption [7- 11].
References
[1] Hawk ET and Levin B, Colorectal cancer prevention, J Clin Oncol. 2005 Jan 10;23(2):378-91.
[2] Serrano D et al, Chemoprevention of colorectal cancer: an update., Tech Coloproctol. 2004 Dec;8 Suppl
2:s248-52
[3] Larsson SC, Magnesium intake in relation to risk of colorectal cancer in women, JAMA. 2005 Jan 5;293(1):86-9.
[4] Cheng Y et al, 5-aminosalicylic acid is an attractive candidate agent for chemoprevention of colon cancer in
patients with inflammatory bowel disease. World J Gastroenterol. 2005 Jan 21;11(3):309-14.
[5] Sandler RS. Calcium supplements to prevent colorectal adenomas, Am J Gastroenterol. 2005 Feb;100(2):395-6.
[6] Gill S and Sinicrope FA. Colorectal cancer prevention: is an ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure? Semin
Oncol. 2005 Feb;32(1):24-34.
[7] Chao A et al, Meat consumption and risk of colorectal cancer. JAMA. 2005 Jan 12;293(2):172-82.
[8] Roomi MW et al , In vivo antitumor effect of ascorbic acid, lysine, proline and green tea extract on human colon
cancer cell HCT 116 xenografts in nude mice: evaluation of tumor growth and immunohistochemistry. Oncol Rep.
2005 Mar;13(3):421-5.
[9] Campos FG et al, Diet and colorectal cancer: current evidence for etiology and prevention. Nutr Hosp. 2005
Jan-Feb;20(1):18-25.
[10]Qu H et al, Lignans Are Involved in the Antitumor Activity of Wheat Bran in Colon Cancer SW480 Cells. J Nutr.
2005 Mar;135(3):598-602.
[11] Tanaka S et al, Effects of aged garlic extract (AGE) on colorectal adenomas: a double-blinded study. Hiroshim
a J Med Sci. 2004 Dec;53(3-4):39-45.
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PHYTONUTRIENTS AND DRUG PRODUCTS. THIS WEBSITE ALSO TALKS ABOUT SOME POPULAR HEALTH ISSUES AND
DISEASES. ARTICLES IN THIS WEB SITE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, YOU SHOULD
CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2008. DO NOT COPY NOR TRANSFER ARTICLES TO
OTHER WEBSITES NOR OTHER FORMS OF PUBLICATIONS. Privacy Policy. ARTICLE INDEX/ Science
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