Anti-inflammatory drugs investigated for chemoprevention

New research has scientists rethinking the role of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the prevention of esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer, and pancreatitis. Three new studies have looked at the possibly helpful role that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may play in the treatment of various gastrointestinal related cancers and in preventing inflammation resulting from surgery.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammagory drugs have been used for years in the treatment of pain and inflammation from both surgery and more run of the mill injuries, but in recent years they have shown a great deal of promise in preventing and protecting patients from cancer. Unfortunately, the side effects of high doses of many non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are dangerous, including increased bleeding risk, gastrointestinal distress, and impact on cardiovascular function.

"The medical community has traditionally been skeptical about the use of NSAIDs," according to Byron L. Cryer, MD, associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. "These new findings suggest the need to further investigate the potential effects of additional low-dose and combinational applications for NSAID medications, which seem to be proving effective in preventing disease."

One of the studies followed 1,561 patients who were prone to adenoma (a type of benign tumor) in 32 different countries and tried to track whether a daily dose of 400 mg of celecoxib would have lower rates of adenoma than those who were given a placebo.

The results suggest that the 400 mg dose of celecoxib does lower the incidence of adenoma in patients.

"We know the drug is effective to reduce the incidence and recurrence of adenoma," said Nadir Arber, MD, head of the Integrated Cancer Prevention Center at Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Israel. "However, advances are needed to either use the drug in lower doses or develop combination therapy that can produce the same effect without the adverse side effects."

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