Ways Sought of Preventing Colorectal Cancer in Ulcerative Colitis Patients

Researchers report growing interest in the use of aminosalicylates, oral steroids, ursodeoxycholic acid, and folic acid as possible ways of preventing colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis.

"Further studies are needed to fully define the chemoprotective role of these and other agents," researchers from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine reported in the International Journal of Colorectal Disease.

Patients with ulcerative colitis are at greater risk of developing colorectal cancer than the general population, and efforts to reduce until now have focused on increased frequency of colonoscopic screening.

"However, spurred on by findings in the sporadic colorectal cancer literature, there has been a growing interest in a possible role for chemoprevention of colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis," the researchers reported.

They noted that previous studies have suggested that 5-aminosalicylic acid agents -- aspirin-like medications such as sulfasalazine and mesalamine -- are protective against the development of dysplasia and colorectal cancer (see earlier Colorectal Cancer Week story).

They said evidence also "suggests, but does not prove, that folic acid is chemopreventive in patients with ulcerative colitis."

Other sources: International Journal of Colorectal Disease