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Colorectal Cancer Prevention

Ernest T. Hawk, Bernard Levin

From the Gastrointestinal and Other Cancers Research Group, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD; and The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Address reprint requests to Ernest T. Hawk, MD, GI and Other Cancers Research Group, National Cancer Institute, 6130 Executive Boulevard, Suite 2141, Bethesda, MD 20892-7322; e-mail: eh51p{at}nih.gov.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of mortality in the United States. In the United States, the cumulative lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer for both men and women is 6%. Despite advances in the management of this disease, the 5-year survival rate in the United States in only 62%. Because only 38% of patients are diagnosed when the cancers are localized to the bowel wall, it is likely that widespread implementation of screening could significantly improve the outcome. Colorectal cancer screening is cost effective, irrespective of the methods used. In addition to currently available methods (fecal occult blood, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and double contrast barium enema), computed tomographic colonography (virtual colonoscopy) and stool-based molecular screening are under development.

Four classes of chemopreventive compounds have demonstrated efficacy in reducing recurrent colorectal adenomas and/or cancer in randomized, controlled trials. They are selenium, calcium carbonate, hormone replacement therapy, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The mechanisms of action of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include inhibition of the cyclooxygenase system as well as cyclooxygenase-independent effects. Considerable effort is being expended to define chemopreventive activity, optimal dose, administration schedule, and toxicity for the coxibs in adenoma recurrence prevention trials. The threshold for tolerating toxicities is very low in asymptomatic individuals at minimally increased risk for colorectal neoplasia.

Authors' disclosures of potential conflicts of interest are found at the end of this article.

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