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Vaccines against cancers have not been as effective as vaccines against infectious diseases. However, recent studies have advanced our understanding of the stages of tumor cell development and of mechanisms of immune surveillance, immune suppression, and of tumor escape from the immune system. The development of animal models that mimic development of human cancers has helped advance the understanding of these processes and is aiding the development of greatly improved vaccines. Here we review the recent progress in developing vaccines and prophylactic approaches for pancreatic and colon cancers. Improved understanding of the expression of various oncogenes and tumor-associated antigens helps in selecting antigenic targets for stage-specific immune prevention. Identification of the earliest alterations in precancerous lesions and selection of epitopes unique to the aberrant cells and capable of triggering strong cytotoxic and helper T cell responses may aid the development of safe and effective vaccines for use in those at high risk of progressing to invasive cancers. The responses can be enhanced with carefully selected adjuvants to boost immunity and by selecting epitopes that are expressed on dendritic cells, thereby promoting T cell responses. Tumor resistance via loss of the targeted antigen can be mitigated by inclusion of multiple tumor epitopes in vaccine constructs. Tumor immune escape can be diminished by targeting various immunosuppressive mechanisms used by different tumors, such as tumor production of immunosuppressive cytokines (e.g., interleukin 10, and Transforming Growth Factor-beta, which can promote activity of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells), or by inhibiting production of inflammatory prostanoids with combined cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitors. Finally, prevention of many cancers may be enhanced by carefully selecting and scheduling of vaccine administration in combination with other chemotherapeutic or chemopreventive agents. Preclinical and early clinical trials incorporating these principles are discussed.

We have consistently shown that several synthetic Organoselenium compounds are superior cancer chemopreventive agents and less toxic than selenite or certain naturally occurring selenoamino acids. 1,4-Phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate (p-XSC) is the lead Organoselenium compound in that it has been shown to be the most effective and the least toxic agent in several experimental cancer models. It is not known whether p-XSC or one of its metabolites is responsible for its chemopreventive efficacy. As an initial step, we synthesized one of its putative metabolites, i.e., the glutathione conjugate of p-XSC (p-XSe-SG), and determined its stability in the pH range from 2 to 8 and in the diet under normal feeding conditions. We also assessed its maximum tolerated dose and examined its chemopreventive efficacy against azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis in male F344 rats. p-XSe-SG proved to be very stable over the pH range tested. The maximum tolerated dose of p-XSe-SG determined in a 6-week subchronic toxicity study was found to be >210 ppm (>40 ppm selenium) when the compound was added to AIN-76A high-fat diet. To assess the efficacy of this agent in the postinitiation period of colon carcinogenesis, male F344 rats 6 weeks of age were fed the high-fat diet, and at beginning of weeks 7 and 8, all of the rats intended for carcinogen treatment were given AOM at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight by s.c. injection. Two days after the carcinogen treatment, the groups of rats consuming the high-fat control diet began their respective high-fat experimental diet regimens with 0, 56, or 84 ppm p-XSe-SG (0.1, 10, and 15 ppm of selenium) supplementation. All animals continued on their respective diets for 38 weeks after the AOM-treatment and were then killed. Colon tumors were evaluated histologically using routine procedures and were also analyzed for cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 expression and enzymatic activities. The results indicate that p-XSeSG administered during the post-initiation stage significantly inhibited both the incidence (P < 0.05-0.01) and the multiplicity (P < 0.05-0.005) of AOM-induced colon adenocarcinomas. This agent also greatly suppressed the multiplicity (P < 0.01-0.001) of AOM-induced exophytic adenocarcinomas in a dose-dependent manner. Feeding of 56 or 84 ppm p-XSe-SG in the diet significantly suppressed total COX activity (P < 0.02 to -0.01) and COX-2 specific activity (P < 0.005-0.0005) but had minimal effect on the protein expression levels of COX-1 and COX-2. These results suggest that the newly developed synthetic Organoselenium compound, p-XSe-SG, is stable in the diet and at wide pH ranges, inhibits colon carcinogenesis when administered during the postinitiation stage, and inhibits COX activity. Compared with previous efficacy studies and considering the toxicity associated with selenium, p-XSe-SG seems to be the least toxic Organoselenium chemopreventive agent thus far tested in the experimental colon carcinogenesis. Studies are in progress to delineate whether p-XSe-SG is also effective when administered during the progression stage of colon carcinogenesis.

Epidemiological studies and laboratory animal model assays suggest that a high intake of dietary fat promotes colorectal cancer. Several in vivo and in vitro studies support the hypothesis that omega-6 fatty acids promote colon tumorigenesis, whereas omega-3 fatty acids lack promoting activity. Fat intake in the United States traditionally includes high amounts (30% of total caloric intake) of saturated fat rather than omega-6 fatty acids. Therefore, the present study was designed to compare the modulatory effects of a high-fat diet containing mixed lipids (HFML), a diet rich in saturated fatty acids (the average American diet), a diet with fish oil (HFFO) that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and a low-fat corn oil diet (LFCO) on the formation of chemically induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and tumors, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 activity, and apoptosis during experimental colon carcinogenesis. At 5 weeks of age, groups of male F344 rats were fed a 5% corn oil diet (LFCO). At 7 weeks of age, rats intended for carcinogen treatment received s.c. injections of azoxymethane at a dose level of 15 mg/kg of body weight once weekly for 2 weeks. Beginning 1 day after the carcinogen treatment, groups of rats were then maintained on experimental diets containing 20% HFML or 20% HFFO. Rats were killed at 8, 23, or 38 weeks after azoxymethane treatment. Colonic ACF and tumors were evaluated histopathologically, and apoptosis was evaluated by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling method. Colonic mucosae and tumor samples harvested at week 38 were analyzed for COX-2 synthetic activity and expression. The rats fed the HFML diet showed significantly increased total colonic ACF (P < 0.001-0.0001) with a multiplicity of > or = 4 aberrant crypts/focus (P < 0.0001) compared with the effects of the HFFO or LFCO diets at week 8, 23, and 38. Interestingly, there was a 2- to 3-fold increase (> or = 4) in multicrypt foci in rats given the HFML diet as compared with such foci in rats fed the HFFO or LFCO diets. By week 23, the HFML diet had significantly increased the incidence of colonic tumors (30-60%) and their multiplicity (100-141%) when compared with the effects of the LFCO or HFFO diets. At week 38, the HFML diet had induced 100% colon tumor incidence and a 4-fold multiplicity of adenocarcinomas compared with the LFCO and HFFO diets. At weeks 23 and 38, a significantly lower percentage of apoptotic colonic epithelial cells were observed in the tumors of animals fed the HFML diet as compared with those fed the HFFO diet. The HFML diet caused significantly increased levels of COX-2 activity in colon tumors (P < 0.05-0.01), and these tumors had enhanced levels of COX-2 expression as compared with those in assays with LFCO or HFFO diets. These observations demonstrate for the first time that HFML diets containing high levels of saturated fatty acids (such as those in Western diets) promote colon carcinogenesis. Although the mechanisms involved in colon tumor promotion by a HFML diet are not fully known, our results indicate that the modulation of eicosanoid production via the influence on COX activity and the suppression of apoptosis may play a key role in HFML diet-induced colon tumorigenesis.

Epidemiological studies have linked consumption of broccoli to a reduced risk of colon cancer in individuals with the glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) null genotype. GSTs are involved in excretion and elimination of isothiocyanates (ITCs), which are major constituents of broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables and have cancer chemopreventive potential, so it is speculated that ITCs may play a role in protection against human colon cancer. However, there is a lack of data from animal studies to support this. We carried out a bioassay to examine whether sulforaphane (SFN) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), major ITCs in broccoli and watercress, respectively, and their corresponding N:-acetylcysteine (NAC) conjugates, show any chemopreventive activity towards azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in F344 rats. Groups of six male F344 rats were treated with AOM subcutaneously (15 mg/kg body wt) once weekly for 2 weeks. SFN and PEITC and their NAC conjugates were administered by gavage either three times weekly for 8 weeks (5 and 20 micromol, respectively) after AOM dosing (post-initiation stage) or once daily for 3 days (20 and 50 micromol, respectively) before AOM treatment (initiation stage). The bioassay was terminated on week 10 after the second AOM dosing and ACF were quantified. SFN, SFN-NAC, PEITC and PEITC-NAC all significantly reduced the formation of total ACF from 153 to 100-116 (P < 0.01) and multicrypt foci from 52 to 27-38 (more than four crypts/focus; P < 0.05) during the post-initiation treatment. However, only SFN and PEITC were effective during the initiation phase, reducing the total ACF from 153 to 109-115 (P < 0.01) and multicrypt foci from 52 to 35 (more than four crypts/focus; P < 0.05). The NAC conjugates were inactive as anti-initiators against AOM-induced ACF. These findings provide important laboratory evidence for a potential role of SFN and PEITC in the protection against colon cancer.

Epidemiological studies suggest an inverse relationship between the intake of dietary fiber, particularly fiber from cereal grains, and colon cancer risk. Animal model assays have demonstrated that the protective effects of dietary fiber on colon cancer development depend on the nature and source of the fiber. Wheat bran (WB) appears to inhibit colon tumorigenesis more consistently than do oat bran or corn bran. This study was designed to determine whether specific WB fractions such as WB fiber, WB lipids, or phytic acid differentially affect colon carcinogenesis in a well-established colon cancer model. In addition, the modulating effect of specific fractions of WB on the activities of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 enzymes were assessed in colon tumors as those have been shown to play a role in tumor progression. At 5 weeks of age, groups of male F344 rats were assigned to one of six diets: a high-fat diet containing 10% WB (control diet) and experimental high-fat diets containing 10% dephytinized WB (WB-P), 10% defatted WB (WB-F), 10% dephytinized and defatted WB (WB-PF), 10% WB-PF fortified with 2% bran oil and/or with 0.4% phytate. At 7 weeks of age, all eats except those in the vehicle-treated groups were given two weekly s.c. injections of azoxymethane (AOM) at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight/week. They continued to receive their respective diets until 50 weeks after carcinogen treatment and were then killed. Colon tumors were analyzed for iNOS, COX-1, and COX-2 expression and enzymatic activities. Colon tumors were evaluated histopathologically and classified as adenomas and adenocarcinomas. We found that removal of phytic acid (WB-P) or lipids (WB-F) from WB had no significant effect on colon tumor incidence (% animals with tumors) or multiplicity (tumors/ animal), whereas removal of both phytate and lipids from WB (WB-PF) significantly increased colon tumor multiplicity and volume. Interestingly, WB-PF fortified with excess bran oil or with bran oil plus phytate significantly inhibited colon tumor incidence, multiplicity, and volume; but supplementation of WB-PF with phytate alone had no significant effect on colon tumorigenesis in rats suggesting that lipid fraction of WB possesses tumor-inhibitory properties. Moreover, feeding WB-PF diet significantly increased iNOS, total COX and COX-2 enzyme activities, and iNOS protein expression in colon tumors as compared with wheat bran control diet. Feeding the WB-PF that was fortified with excess bran oil alone or with bran oil plus phytate significantly suppressed the activities of iNOS and COX-2 as well as the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in colon tumors compared with that in rats fed the WB diet or WB-PF diet. The study demonstrates for the first time that the lipid fraction of wheat bran has strong colon tumor inhibitor properties. The exact mechanism(s) by which the lipid fraction of WB inhibits colon carcinogenesis in addition to alteration of iNOS and COX activities remains to be elucidated. Additional studies are warranted to identify biologically active constituents of lipid fraction of WB and their relative role in colon tumor inhibition.

Large bowel cancer is not only the third most frequent cancer in the world but is one of the most common human malignancies in Western countries, including North America. In recent years, multidisciplinary research in epidemiology, molecular biology, and laboratory animal model studies have contributed much to our understanding of the aetiology of this cancer; more importantly, it has enabled us to devise preventive strategies. Several epidemiological studies have detected a 40 to 50% decrease in risk of colorectal cancer in individuals who regularly use aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Clinical trials with NSAIDs in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis have demonstrated that treatment with NSAIDs caused regression of pre-existing adenomas. Preclinical efficacy studies have provided scientifically sound evidence as to how NSAIDs act to retard, block, or reverse colonic carcinogenesis. Equally exciting are opportunities for effective chemoprevention with selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors in a variety of animal models of colon cancer. Selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors such as celecoxib have been proven to be effective chemopreventive agents against colonic carcinogenesis with minimal gastrointestinal toxicity. Our exploration of the multistep process of carcinogenesis has provided substantial insights into the mechanisms by which anti-inflammatory agents modulate these events. There is growing optimism for the view that realisation of preventive concepts in large bowel cancer will also serve as a model for preventing malignancies of the prostate and breast.

Epidemiologic observations and laboratory research have suggested that dietary selenium reduces the risk of colon cancer. Selenium-enriched brewer's yeast as a dietary supplement reduces the incidence of and mortality from cancer of the colon in humans. It is not clear whether the observed inhibitory effect is due to selenomethionine, or to other forms of selenium, or to a mixture of the selenium compounds present in selenium-enriched brewer's yeast. Therefore, bioassay described in this study examined the chemopreventive efficacy of 10 and 15 ppm selenomethionine, equivalent to 3.6 and 5.4 ppm as selenium, against azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis. At five weeks of age, groups of male F344 rats were fed diets containing 0 (control diet), 10 or 15 ppm selenomethionine. At seven and eight weeks of age, all rats except those in vehicle-treated groups received s.c. injections of AOM at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body wt. The rats were maintained on their respective diets for 52 weeks and were then sacrificed. Colon tumors were processed and evaluated histopathologically. Colon tumor incidence and multiplicity were analyzed statistically. No obvious toxic effects were observed following dietary administration of 10 or 15 ppm selenomethionine as indicated by body weight gain. Administration of 10 or 15 ppm selenomethionine had no significant effect on colon tumor incidence and multiplicity. This study suggests that i) selenomethionine lacks chemopreventive efficacy against AOM-induced colon carcinogenesis and ii) other forms of selenium or a mixture of selenium compounds present in selenium-enriched brewer's yeast need to be evaluated for their chemopreventive efficacy.

Epidemiological and experimental studies suggest an inverse relationship between the intake of dietary selenium and/or low fat-intake and colon cancer risk. Efficacy studies in rodents suggest that the organoselenium compound 1, 4-phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate (p-XSC), is a more effective and less toxic chemopreventive agent than other organic or inorganic selenium compounds such as selenomethionine and Na2SeO3. The efficacy of p-XSC against colon cancer is significantly augmented by a low-fat diet. To explore the mechanisms by which this combined inhibiting effect against colon carcinogenesis comes about, we have investigated protein kinase C (PKC), tyrosine protein kinase (TPK), diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) activities and 8-isoprostane levels in colonic mucosa and tumor tissues in an azoxymethane (AOM)-induced rat colon cancer model. Weanling male F344 rats were fed the semipurified AIN-76A diet until seven weeks of age. Then various experimental groups were fed the low- or high-fat diets containing 0 or 20 ppm p-XSC (10 ppm as selenium). At seven weeks of age, groups of rats were injected s.c. with azoxymethane (AOM; 15 mg/kg body wt., once weekly for 2 weeks) and continued on their respective experimental diets until 38 weeks after the second AOM treatment. They were then sacrificed and colonic mucosal and tumor samples were evaluated for PKC, TPK, DGK and 8-isoprostane levels. Administration of p-XSC along with a low-fat diet significantly inhibited Ca+2-dependent and -independent PKC (P<0.05-0.01) activities in colonic mucosa and tumors. Administration of p-XSC either low-fat or high-fat diet significantly suppressed both colonic mucosal and tumor TPK activity (P<0.05-0.01). Suppression of TPK activity was more pronounced in rats maintained on a low-fat diet containing p-XSC. In contrast, rats receiving p-XSC with either low- or high fat diet showed significantly increased DGK activity (P<0.01-0.0001). Rats fed low-fat or high-fat plus p-XSC had lower-levels of 8-isoprostane in the colonic tumors than animals who had been given low- or high-fat diets without the organoselenium compound. Interestingly, 8-isoprostane levels were lower in the colon tumors of the rats fed the low-fat diet than those fed the high-fat diet. Our findings suggest that p-XSC induced down-regulation of PKC and TPK activities and up-regulation of DGK activity. These events may in part be responsible for the chemopreventive activity against colon carcinogenesis. Further, this study implies that p-XSC with a low-fat dietary regimen will augment regulation of PKC, TPK and DGK activities in the colon.

Epidemiological observations and laboratory research have suggested that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce the risk of colon cancer and that the inhibition of colon carcinogenesis by NSAIDs is mediated through the modulation of prostaglandin production by rate-limiting enzymes known as cyclooxygenases (COXs). Because traditional NSAIDs inhibit both COX-1 and COX-2, these drugs induce side effects, such as gastrointestinal ulceration and renal toxicity, through the inhibition of the constitutive COX-1. Overexpression of COX-2 has been observed in colon tumors; therefore, specific inhibitors of COX-2 could serve as chemopreventive agents. Our previous study has shown that celecoxib, an inhibitor of COX-2, while sparing COX-1, inhibited azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon tumorigenesis when administered during both initiation and postinitiation stages, ie., celecoxib administered continuously before, during, and after carcinogen treatment. This study examined the dose-response effect of celecoxib when administered during the initiation and postinitiation stages. In addition, the chemopreventive effects of high-dose celecoxib administered during the promotion/progression stage of colon carcinogenesis, ie., continuous celecoxib administration beginning 14 weeks after the carcinogen treatment, was determined in male F344 rats. We also measured the steady-state levels of celecoxib in the plasma of animals given this inhibitor. Groups of 5-week-old male F344 rats were fed either a control diet or experimental diets containing 500, 1000, or 1500 ppm celecoxib. At 7 and 8 weeks of age, rats scheduled for carcinogen treatment were injected s.c. with AOM at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight/week. Groups of animals destined for the promotion/ progression study and initially receiving the control diet were switched to a diet containing 1500 ppm celecoxib beginning 14 weeks after the second AOM treatment. All rats remained on their respective dietary regimens until the termination of the study, ie., 52 weeks, and were then sacrificed. Colon tumors were evaluated histopathologically. Administration of 500, 1000, or 1500 ppm celecoxib during the initiation and postinitiation stages significantly inhibited the incidence (P < 0.01 to P < 0.0001) as well as the multiplicity (P < 0.01 to P < 0.0001) of adenocarcinomas of the colon in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, administration of 1500 ppm celecoxib during the promotion/progression stage also significantly suppressed the incidence and multiplicity of adenocarcinomas of the colon (P < 0.01). Also, administration of celecoxib to the rats during the initiation and postinitiation periods and throughout the promotion/progression stage strongly suppressed colon tumor volume (P < 0.0002 to P < 0.001). The steady-state plasma concentration of celecoxib increases somewhat with the dose. Thus, in this model system, the chemopreventive efficacy of celecoxib is dose-dependent when this COX-2 inhibitor is administered during the initiation and postinitiation periods. This study provides the first evidence that celecoxib is also very effective when it is given during the promotion/progression stage of colon carcinogenesis, indicating that the chemopreventive efficacy is achieved during the later stages of colon tumor development. This suggests that celecoxib may potentially be an effective chemopreventive agent for the secondary prevention of colon cancer in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and sporadic polyps.

Background & Aims: 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (HRIs) were found incidentally to reduce new cases of colon cancer in 2 large clinical trials evaluating coronary events, although most patients in both treatment and control group were taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs are associated with reduced colon cancer incidence, predominantly by increasing apoptosis. We showed previously that lovastatin induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells. In the present study we evaluated the potential of combining lovastatin with sulindac for colon cancer chemoprevention., Results: Lovastatin, 10-30 micromol/L, augmented sulindac-induced apoptosis up to 5-fold in 3 colon cancer cell lines. This was prevented by mevalonate (100 micromol/L) or geranylgeranylpyrophosphate (10 micromol/L) but not farnesylpyrophosphate (100 micromol/L), suggesting inhibition of geranylgeranylation of target protein(s) as the predominant mechanism. In an azoxymethane rat model of chemical-induced carcinogenesis, the total number of colonic aberrant crypt foci per animal (control, 161 +/- 11) and the number of foci with 4+ crypts (control, 40 +/- 4.5) decreased to 142 +/- 14 (NS) and 43 +/- 2.9 (NS), respectively, with 50 ppm lovastatin alone; to 137 +/- 5.4 (P = 0.053) and 36 +/- 2.1 (NS) with 80 ppm sulindac alone; and to 116 +/- 8.1 (P = 0.004) and 28 +/- 3.4 (P = 0.02) when 50 ppm lovastatin and 80 ppm sulindac were combined., Conclusions: Addition of an HRI such as lovastatin may augment chemopreventive effects of NSAIDs or/and may allow lower, less toxic doses of these drugs to be used.

S-methylmethane thiosulfonate (S-MMTS), isolated from cauliflower and having antiproliferative activity, and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug sulindac have been shown to inhibit chemically induced colon carcinogenesis when they are administered during the initiation and/ or post-initiation stages. The present study was designed to investigate the chemopreventive efficacy of 80 p.p.m. S-MMTS administered during the initiation and post-initiation stages and of S-MMTS and sulindac administered together at low doses (40 and 160 p.p.m., respectively) during the promotion/progression phases (late in the premalignant stage) of colon carcinogenesis. At 5 weeks of age, groups of male F344 rats were fed diets containing 0 (control diet) or 80 p.p.m. S-MMTS. At 7 and 8 weeks of age all rats except those in the vehicle-treated groups were given s.c. injections of 15 mg/kg body wt azoxymethane (AOM). Rats receiving the control diet and intended for the study of inhibition of colon carcinogenesis during the promotion/progression phases were continued on the control diet for 14 weeks after the second AOM treatment; they were then switched to experimental diets containing 80 p.p.m. S-MMTS, 160 p.p.m. sulindac or 40 p.p.m. S-MMTS plus 160 p. p.m. sulindac. The rats were maintained on their respective dietary regimens until 52 weeks after carcinogen treatment and were then killed. Colon tumors were evaluated histopathologically. Administration of 80 p.p.m. S-MMTS alone during the initiation and post-initiation stages and promotion/progression stages had no significant effect on colon tumor inhibition. In contrast, the administration of 160 p.p.m. sulindac during the promotion/progression stages did significantly inhibit total colon tumor multiplicity (P < 0.05). Moreover, co-administration of 40 p.p. m. S-MMTS with 160 p.p.m. sulindac during the promotion/progression stages suppressed the incidence and multiplicity of non-invasive adenocarcinomas (P < 0.05-0.01) and multiplicity of invasive and total adenocarcinomas of the colon to a significant degree (P < 0. 05-0.01). These findings have potential clinical implications.

Epidemiological and model studies with laboratory animals have provided evidence that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce the risk of colon cancer. Sulindac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, has been shown to inhibit azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis in rats when administered continuously before, during, and after carcinogen treatment (initiation and postinitiation periods) or when given continuously beginning 14 weeks after carcinogen administration (promotion/ progression stage). The present study was designed to investigate the chemopreventive efficacy of sulindac sulfone (exisulind), the sulfone metabolite of sulindac, when administered during the promotion/progression stage of colon carcinogenesis in comparison to the effect during the initiation and postinitiation periods. We have also studied the modulating effect of exisulind on colonic tumor apoptosis. At 5 weeks of age, groups of male F344 rats were fed diets containing 0%, 0.06%, and 0.12% exisulind. At 7 weeks of age, groups of animals were injected s.c. with AOM (15 mg/kg body weight, once weekly for 2 weeks). Animals intended for the promotion/progression study and receiving 0% exisulind were switched to an experimental diet containing 0.12% exisulind at 14 weeks after the second AOM treatment. All rats remained on their respective dietary regimens until the termination of the study, 50 weeks after the second AOM injection. Colon tumors were evaluated histopathologically for tumor type. Administration of 0.06% and 0.12% exisulind during the initiation and postinitiation periods significantly inhibited the incidence and multiplicity of invasive and/or noninvasive adenocarcinomas of the colon. The inhibition of colon tumorigenesis by exisulind was associated with a significant retardation of body weight gain shortly after sulfone administration and increased apoptosis in the colon tumors. In contrast, administration of the higher dose (0.12%) of exisulind during the promotion/progression stage had only minimal effects on colon tumorigenesis and apoptosis in the colon tumors, suggesting that early administration, but not late administration, may be required for chemopreventive efficacy of this drug.

The experiments described here were aimed at developing novel probiotic strains that may aid in the reduction of colon cancer risk. We assessed the potential anticancer properties of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFMTM in male F344 rats using inhibition of the formation of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon as the measure of preventive efficacy. At 6 weeks of age, groups of rats were fed the experimental diets containing 0, 2% or 4% lyophilized cultures of L. acidophilus NCFMTM. At 7 weeks of age, all animals in each dietary group, except the vehicle-treated rats, were s.c. injected with AOM (15 mg/kg body weight) once weekly for two weeks. The vehicle-treated groups were given s.c. injections of normal saline. All rats were necropsied 10 weeks after the last AOM injection and ACF in formalin-fixed, methylene blue-stained colonic tissues were counted under the light microscope. The contents of the cecum were analyzed for bacterial beta-glucuronidase activity. Diet supplementation with the probiotic strain NCFMTM significantly suppressed AOM-induction of colonic ACF, in terms of total number, as well as crypt multiplicity and number of ACF/cm2 colon (P<0.01 - 0.001). NCFMTM inhibited AOM-induced colonic ACF formation in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). A significant dose-dependent reduction of cecal beta-glucuronidase activities was observed in the rats fed 2% (P<0.04) and 4% (P<0.0001) NCFMTM. These results suggest that Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFMTM may potentially prevent colon cancer development. Further studies are warranted to determine the full potential of this probiotic strain in preclinical efficacy studies.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is overexpressed in colonic tumors of humans and also in rats treated with a colon carcinogen. iNOS appear to regulate cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and production of proinflammatory prostaglandins, which are known to play a key role in colon tumor development. Experiments were designed to study the inhibitory effects of S,S'-1,4-phenylene-bis(1,2-ethanediyl)bis-isothiourea (PBIT) a selective iNOS-specific inhibitor, measured against formation of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF). Beginning at 5 weeks of age, male F344 rats were fed experimental diets containing 0 or 50 p.p.m. of PBIT, or 2000 p.p.m. of curcumin (non-specific iNOS inhibitor). One week later, rats were injected s.c. with AOM (15 mg/kg body wt, once weekly for 2 weeks). At 17 weeks of age, all rats were killed, colons were evaluated for ACF formation and colonic mucosa was assayed for isoforms of COX and NOS activities. Both COX and iNOS activities in colonic mucosa of the AOM-treated rats were significantly induced. Importantly, 50 p.p.m. PBIT suppressed AOM-induced colonic ACF formation to 58% (P < 0.0001) and crypt multiplicity containing four or more crypts per focus to 78% (P < 0.0001); it also suppressed AOM-induced iNOS activity. Curcumin inhibited colonic ACF formation by 45% (P < 0.001). These observations suggest that iNOS may play a key regulatory role in colon carcinogenesis. Developing iNOS-specific inhibitors may provide a selective and safe chemopreventive strategy for colon cancer treatment.

Curcumin, derived from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. and having both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, inhibits chemically induced carcinogenesis in the skin, forestomach, and colon when it is administered during initiation and/or postinitiation stages. This study was designed to investigate the chemopreventive action of curcumin when it is administered (late in the premalignant stage) during the promotion/progression stage of colon carcinogenesis in male F344 rats. We also studied the modulating effect of this agent on apoptosis in the tumors. At 5 weeks of age, groups of male F344 rats were fed a control diet containing no curcumin and an experimental AIN-76A diet with 0.2% synthetically derived curcumin (purity, 99.9%). At 7 and 8 weeks of age, rats intended for carcinogen treatment were given s.c. injections of azoxymethane (AOM) at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight per week. Animals destined for the promotion/progression study received the AIN-76A control diet for 14 weeks after the second AOM treatment and were then switched to diets containing 0.2 and 0.6% curcumin. Premalignant lesions in the colon would have developed by week 14 following AOM treatment. They continued to receive their respective diets until 52 weeks after carcinogen treatment and were then sacrificed. The results confirmed our earlier study in that administration of 0.2% curcumin during both the initiation and postinitiation periods significantly inhibited colon tumorigenesis. In addition, administration of 0.2% and of 0.6% of the synthetic curcumin in the diet during the promotion/progression stage significantly suppressed the incidence and multiplicity of noninvasive adenocarcinomas and also strongly inhibited the multiplicity of invasive adenocarcinomas of the colon. The inhibition of adenocarcinomas of the colon was, in fact, dose dependent. Administration of curcumin to the rats during the initiation and postinitiation stages and throughout the promotion/progression stage increased apoptosis in the colon tumors as compared to colon tumors in the groups receiving AOM and the control diet. Thus, chemopreventive activity of curcumin is observed when it is administered prior to, during, and after carcinogen treatment as well as when it is given only during the promotion/progression phase (starting late in premalignant stage) of colon carcinogenesis.

Observational, clinical and experimental studies have suggested that dietary supplementation with selenium can inhibit the development of colon cancer. Since toxicity and chemopreventive efficacy of selenium compounds depend to a large extent, on the form of selenium the development of efficacious organoselenium compounds with low toxicity is being pursued in our laboratory. We have assessed the chemopreventive properties of a newly synthesized organoselenium compound, benzyl selenocyanate glutathione conjugate (BSeSG), and of benzyl selenocyanate (BSC), as a positive control, using azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) as a measure of efficacy. Five-week-old male F344 rats were fed the control diet (modified AIN-76A) or experimental diets containing 10 or 20 ppm BSeSG (1.7 and 3.4 ppm as Se, respectively), or 10 ppm BSC (4.1 ppm as Se). One week later, all animals except those in vehicle (normal saline)-treated groups were s.c. injected with AOM (15 mg/kg of body weight, once weekly for 2 weeks). All animals were sacrificed 7 weeks after the last AOM injection, and the ACF, levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), cyclooxygenase protein expression (COX-1 and -2), and glutathione S-transferase type mu (GST-mu) were determined in the colon. As expected, dietary administration of BSC suppressed ACF development by about 37%. In rats administered 10 or 20 ppm BSeSG, the frequencies of AOM-induced colonic ACF were significantly decreased compared to those of rats given AOM and control diet by about 41% (P<0.01) and 61% (P<0.001), respectively. Administration of BSeSG inhibited PGE2 production (81-88% inhibition) via COX-2 synthesis in the colonic mucosa (18-60% inhibition). Also, BSeSG increased GST-mu protein activity in colonic mucosa (30-32% increase). These data suggest that a newly synthesized organoselenium compound, BSeSG might be a promising chemopreventive agent against colon carcinogenesis.

Epidemiological and laboratory studies suggest that nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs reduce the risk of colon cancer and that the inhibition of colon carcinogenesis is mediated through modulation of prostaglandin production by cyclooxygenase (COX) isozymes (COX-1 and -2). Overexpression of COX-2 has been observed in colon tumors; therefore, specific inhibitors of COX-2 activity could potentially serve as chemopreventive agents. Our recent study indicated that celecoxib (SC-58635), a specific COX-2 inhibitor, suppressed colonic aberrant crypt foci formation induced by azoxymethane in rats and led us to investigate more specifically the chemopreventive potential of this compound using colon tumors as end points. Five-week-old male F344 rats were fed the control diet (modified AIN-76A) or an experimental diet containing 1500 ppm celecoxib. Two weeks later, all animals except those in the saline-treated groups received s.c. injections of azoxymethane (15 mg/kg of body weight) once weekly for 2 weeks. All groups were kept on their regimen until the experiment was terminated, 50 weeks after carcinogen treatment. Colon tumors were evaluated histopathologically. Remarkably, dietary administration of celecoxib inhibited both incidence and multiplicity of colon tumors by about 93 and 97%, respectively. It also suppressed the overall colon tumor burden by more than 87%. The degree of tumor inhibition was more pronounced with celecoxib than it was with previously evaluated nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The results of this study provide evidence, for the first time, that a specific COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, possesses strong chemopreventive activity against colon carcinogenesis.

Epidemiologic and laboratory studies suggest a cancer protective effect and/or lack of a tumor promoting effect by dietary olive oil as compared with other types of non-marine oils. Squalene, a constituent of olive oil, and a key intermediate in cholesterol synthesis may be regarded as partially responsible for the beneficial effects of olive oil, which include decreased mortality rates among populations with high olive oil consumption. Thus, in this study we have assessed the chemopreventive efficacy of squalene on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF). In addition, we measured the effect of squalene on serum cholesterol levels in the rats. Male F34 rats (5 weeks old) were fed the control diet (modified AIN-76A) or experimental diets containing 1% squalene or 320 p.p.m. sulindac. Two weeks later, all animals except those in vehicle (normal saline)-treated groups were s.c. injected with AOM (15 mg/kg body wt, once weekly for 2 weeks). At 16 weeks of age, all rats were killed, colons were evaluated for ACF and serum was assayed for the cholesterol levels. As expected, dietary administration of sulindac suppressed ACF development and reduced crypt multiplicity, i.e. number of aberrant crypts/focus. Administration of dietary squalene inhibited total ACF induction and crypt multiplicity by approximately >46% (P < 0.001). Further, squalene at a level of 1% did not show any significant effect on serum cholesterol levels. Our finding that squalene significantly suppresses colonic ACF formation and crypt multiplicity strengthens the hypothesis that squalene possesses chemopreventive activity against colon carcinogenesis.

Studies in laboratory animals have demonstrated that dietary supplements of organoselenium, 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate (p-XSC) inhibit colon carcinogenesis. Diverse chemopreventive agents and clinically used anticancer drugs have been shown to induce apoptosis in colonic tumors. Inducing apoptosis is a key mechanism for the effectiveness of some chemopreventive agents; however, failure of apoptosis is now believed to contribute to the development of human cancer. In this study, we determined the number of apoptotic bodies in the colon tumors of rats fed a low-fat (LF) or a high-fat (HF) diet with or without p-XSC treatment. At 5 weeks of age, male F344 rats were divided into four groups, which were then maintained on one of the following diets: LF, 5% corn oil; HF, 23.5% corn oil; and LF and HF supplemented with 20 ppm p-XSC. In addition, the LF or HF diet with p-XSC supplements was administered either during the initiation stage or postinitiation. At 7 weeks of age, all rats except those intended for vehicle (normal saline) treatment were given 15 mg/kg of body weight of azoxymethane once weekly for 2 weeks. The animals were sacrificed 38 weeks after carcinogen treatment, and their colonic tumors were examined for appearance of apoptosis. The LF diet significantly increased the percentage of apoptosis as compared to the HF diet; the percentage of apoptosis in LF and HF diets were 12.4 and 2.9. The colon tumors that were present in the groups fed p-XSC together with a LF or a HF diet after carcinogen administration (postinitiation period) had a higher number of apoptotic bodies than those that were present in the animals fed p-XSC before carcinogen treatment (initiation period). The extent of apoptosis was weak when p-XSC was given with a HF diet (4.4%) during the initiation phase, but it was high significant when p-XSC was administered with LF diet (25.2%). Taken together, our data suggest that administration of LF diet supplemented with p-XSC increases apoptosis as compared to a HF diet alone.

Several phytochemicals and micronutrients that are present in fruits and vegetables are known to exert cancer chemopreventive effects in several organs, including the colon. Among them, the soybean isoflavonoid genistein received much attention due to its potential anticarcinogenic, antiproliferative effects and its potential role in several signal transduction pathways. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of genistein on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis and to study its modulatory role on the levels of activity of 8-isoprostane, cyclooxygenase (COX), and 15-hydroxyprostaglandin F2alpha dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) in the colonic mucosa and colon tumors of male F344 rats. At 5 weeks of age, groups of male F344 rats were fed control (AIN-76A) diet or a diet containing 250 ppm genistein. Beginning 2 weeks later, all animals except those in the vehicle-treated groups were given weekly s.c. injections of AOM (15 mg/kg body weight) for 2 successive weeks. All rats were continued on their respective dietary regimen for 52 weeks after AOM treatment and were then sacrificed. Colon tumors were evaluated histopathologically. Colonic mucosae and tumors were analyzed for COX, 15-PGDH, and 8-isoprostane levels. Administration of genistein significantly increased noninvasive and total adenocarcinoma multiplicity (P < 0.01) in the colon, compared to the control diet, but it had no effect on the colon adenocarcinoma incidence nor on the multiplicity of invasive adenocarcinoma (P > 0.05). Also, genistein significantly inhibited the 15-PGDH activity (>35%) and levels of 8-iosoprostane (50%) in colonic mucosa and in tumors. In contrast, genistein had no significant effect on the COX synthetic activity, as measured by the rate of formation of prostaglandins and thromboxane B2 from [14C]arachidonic acid. The results of this investigation emphasize that the biological effects of genistein may be organ specific, inhibiting cancer development in some sites yet showing no effect or an enhancing effect on the tumorigenesis at other sites, such as the colon. The inhibition of 8-isoprostane levels by genistein indicates its possible antioxidant potential, which is independent of the observed colon tumor enhancement, yet this agent may also possess several biological effects that overshadow its antioxidant potential. The exact mechanism(s) of colon tumor enhancement by genistein remain to be elucidated; it is likely that its colon tumor-enhancing effects may, at least in part, be related to inhibition of prostaglandin catabolic enzyme activities.

Oligofructose and inulin, naturally-occurring fermentable chicory fructans, have been shown to stimulate the growth of bifidobacteria which are regarded as beneficial strains in the colon and inhibit colon carcinogenesis in the laboratory animal models. The present study was designed to determine the effect of oligofructose and inulin on the azoxymethane (AOM)-induced preneoplastic lesions such as aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation in the colon of male F344 rats. At 5 weeks of age, groups of animals were fed the AIN-76A (control) and the experimental diets containing 10% oligofructose or inulin. At 7 weeks of age, all animals received s.c. injection of AOM dissolved in normal saline at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body wt, once weekly for 2 weeks. The animals were necropsied 7 weeks after the last AOM injection, and the ACF were visualized under light microscopy in the formalin-fixed, unsectioned methylene blue-stained colons. They were distinguished by their increased size, more prominent epithelial cells and pericryptal space. The feeding of oligofructose or inulin significantly inhibited the ACF formation and the crypt multiplicity in the colon. The degree of ACF inhibition was more pronounced in animals fed inulin than in those fed oligofructose. The findings suggest that chicory fructan supplements inhibit ACF formation, an early preneoplastic marker of malignant potential in the process of colon carcinogenesis.

Background: Observational and experimental studies have suggested that dietary supplementation with selenium can inhibit the development of colon cancer. However, many forms of selenium are toxic. Consequently, the development of efficacious compounds with low toxicity has been pursued., Purpose: Two synthetic organoselenium compounds, p-methoxy-benzyl selenocyanate (p-methoxy-BSC) and 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate (p-XSC), were tested for their ability to inhibit colon carcinogenesis in rats that were treated with the carcinogen azoxymethane and fed low- or high-fat diets., Methods: Groups of 5-week-old male F344 rats (42 animals/ group) were fed either a high-fat diet or a low-fat diet with or without added p-methoxy-BSC (10 or 20 parts per million [ppm]) or p-XSC (20 ppm). Two weeks later, 30 animals in each group received a subcutaneous injection of azoxymethane (15 mg/kg body weight); 1 week later, they received a second injection. The remaining 12 rats in each group received two injections of saline. Three days after the second injection of carcinogen or saline, animals being fed diets with p-methoxy-BSC or p-XSC were switched to corresponding organoselenium-free low- or high-fat diets for the remainder of the study to determine the effects of the selenium compounds on the initiation phase of colon carcinogenesis. At that time, groups of animals that had been maintained on organoselenium-free low- or high-fat diets were switched to diets containing p-methoxy-BSC or p-XSC until the end of the study to determine the effects of these compounds on the postinitiation phase of colon carcinogenesis. All animals were killed during the 38th week after azoxymethane or saline treatment, and histopathologic analysis of the colon tumors was performed. Colon tumor incidence and multiplicity were analyzed statistically., Results: No obvious toxic effects were observed following dietary administration of 10 or 20 ppmp-methoxy-BSC or 20 ppm p-XSC. Administration of 20 ppm p-methoxy-BSC in a high-fat diet during the initiation and postinitiation phases of colon carcinogenesis significantly (statistically) reduced colon tumor incidence; 10 ppmp-methoxy-BSC in a high-fat diet significantly reduced colon tumor incidence but only when it was given during the postinitiation phase. Colon tumor incidence was also significantly reduced when 20 ppm p-XSC was given in a high-fat diet during the initiation phase of colon carcinogenesis. When 20 ppm p-XSC was administered in either a high-fat diet or a low-fat diet during the postinitiation phase, both colon tumor incidence and multiplicity were significantly reduced; the greatest reductions were in animals fed a low-fat diet., Conclusions: In this model system, p-methoxy-BSC and p-XSC are effective agents for the chemoprevention of colon cancer. The effects of p-XSC were enhanced in animals fed a low-fat diet.

Recent evidence supports the theory that tumor growth in vivo depends on evasion of normal homeostatic control mechanisms that operate through induction of cell death by apoptosis. This study tested the hypothesis that several potential chemopreventive agents share the ability to induce apoptosis and that inhibition of apoptosis is a mechanism of tumor promoters. The present study was designed to investigate whether the chemopreventive properties of sulindac, curcumin, and phenylethyl-3-methylcaffeate (PEMC) and the tumor-promoting activity of 6-phenylhexyl isothiocyanate (PHITC) that were observed in our previous studies are associated with the induction or inhibition of apoptosis in azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon tumors in male F344 rats. At 5 weeks of age, groups of rats were fed control (modified AIN-76A) diet or diets containing 320 ppm of sulindac, 2000 ppm of curcumin, 750 ppm of PEMC, or 640 ppm of PHITC. At 7 weeks of age, all rats except those intended for vehicle (normal saline) treatment were given AOM (15 mg/kg body weight) once weekly for 2 weeks. To study the effect of sulindac administered during promotion/progression stage, the rats were fed the control diet initially and then fed the experimental diet containing 320 ppm of sulindac 14 weeks after the second AOM treatment. The rats were sacrificed 52 weeks after carcinogen treatment, and their colonic tumors were subjected to histopathological evaluation and the appearance of apoptosis. In the current study, chronic administration of sulindac, curcumin, and PEMC or sulindac given only during promotion/progression significantly increased the apoptotic index (percentage of apoptosis) as compared to administration of the control diet; the apoptotic indices in the control, sulindac, curcumin, and PEMC diets were 8.3, 17.6, 17.7, and 18.5%, respectively, and in sulindac administered during promotion/progression stage, the apoptotic index was 19.1%. However, dietary PHITC blocked the process of apoptosis during colon carcinogenesis. The apoptotic index in PHITC diet was 7.0%. Taken together, our data show that chemopreventive properties of agents are correlated with the degree of apoptosis. Therefore apoptosis seems to be a reliable biomarker for the evaluation of potential agents for cancer prevention.

Epidemiological studies suggest that consumption of diets containing fruits and vegetables, major sources of phytochemicals and micronutrients, may reduce the risk of developing cancer of the colon. Several phytochemicals and micronutrients present in fruits and vegetables are known to exert cancer-chemopreventive effects in several organs, including the colon. Monoterpenes such as d-limonene and perillyl alcohol derived from orange peels and lavender, respectively, have been shown to possess chemopreventive properties against mammary, liver, and/or lung carcinogenesis. The present study was designed to investigate the efficacy of dietary 40 and 80% maximum tolerated dose (MTD) levels of perillyl alcohol on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis. The effect of this agent on the process of apoptosis in colon tumors was also investigated. Prior to the efficacy study, the MTD of perillyl alcohol was determined in male F344 rats in a 6-week subchronic toxicity study and found to be a 2.5-g/kg diet when added to the AIN-76A diet. At 5 weeks of age, groups of male F344 rats were fed control (AIN-76A) diet or diets containing 1 and 2 g perillyl alcohol/kg diet, representing 40 and 80% MTD levels, respectively. At 7 weeks of age, all animals except those in the vehicle-treated groups were given two weekly s.c. injections of AOM (15 mg/kg body weight/week). All animals were continued on their respective dietary regimen for 52 weeks after AOM treatment and then sacrificed. Colon tumors were evaluated histopathologically using routine procedures. Perillyl alcohol at the 1-g/kg level significantly inhibited the incidence (percentage of animals with tumors) and multiplicity (tumors/ animals) of invasive adenocarcinomas of the colon, whereas perillyl alcohol at 2 g/kg diet inhibited the incidence of total adenocarcinomas of the colon and small intestine as compared to the control diet. Our studies also indicate that the colon tumors of animals fed perillyl alcohol exhibited increased apoptosis as compared to those fed the control diet. These results demonstrate the potential chemopreventive activity of perillyl alcohol against colon carcinogenesis. The chemopreventive activity of perillyl alcohol is mediated through the tumor cell loss by apoptosis.

Epidemiological and laboratory studies indicate an inverse relationship between the risk of colon cancer development and intake of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, including aspirin. One of the mechanisms by which nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents inhibit colon carcinogenesis is through the inhibition of prostaglandin production by cyclooxygenase isozymes (COX-1 and COX-2). Overexpression of COX-2 has been observed in colon tumors. Thus, selective inhibitors of COX-2 could potentially serve as chemopreventive agents. We have assessed the chemopreventive properties of SC-58635, a COX-2 inhibitor, and of sulindac, as a positive control, in a double-blind study, using azoxymethane-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) as a measure of efficacy. Five-week-old male F344 rats were fed the control diet (modified AIN-76A) or experimental diets containing 150 or 1500 ppm SC-58635, 320 ppm sulindac, or 1500 ppm placebo. Two weeks later, all animals except those in vehicle (normal saline)-treated groups were s.c. injected with azoxymethane (15 mg/kg of body weight, once weekly for 2 weeks). At 16 weeks of age, all rats were sacrificed and colons were evaluated for ACF. As expected, dietary administration of sulindac suppressed ACF development as such and reduced crypt multiplicity in terms of number of aberrant crypts/ focus. Administration of 1500 ppm SC-58635 inhibited total ACF induction and crypt multiplicity by about 40-49%. Our finding that SC-58635 significantly suppressed colonic ACF formation and crypt multiplicity strengthens the hypothesis that a selective COX-2 inhibitor possesses chemopreventive activity against colon carcinogenesis.

It is evident from many studies that the effect of dietary fat on colon tumor promotion depends not only on the amount of fat but especially on fatty acid composition. Animal model studies have shown that diets which are high in omega-6 fatty acids increase colon tumor promotion, whereas diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids have no such enhancing effect. The mechanisms by which the high fat content of the diet promotes colon carcinogenesis may include the production of secondary bile acids in the colon and the modulation of colonic luminal bacterial 7 alpha-dehydroxylase that is involved in generating secondary bile acids, phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), and mucosal PI-PLC, as well as diacylglycerol (DAG) kinase and protein kinase C (PKC). In the present study, we investigated the effect of high-fat diets that are rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids on cecal bacterial 7 alpha-dehydroxylase and PI-PLC, fecal secondary bile acids, and colonic mucosal DAG kinase and PKC activities during different stages of colon carcinogenesis in male F344 rats. At 5 weeks of age, groups of animals were fed a low-fat diet containing 5% corn oil (LFCO). Beginning at 7 weeks of age, all animals, except those intended as vehicle controls, received azoxymethane (AOM) s.c. once weekly for 2 weeks at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight. Vehicle-treated groups received s.c. injections of normal saline. One day after the second AOM or saline treatment, the experimental groups of animals were transferred to a high-fat diet containing 23.5% corn oil (HFCO) or 20.5% fish oil + 3% corn oil (HFFO). One group continued on the LFCO diet. Animals were sacrificed at weeks 1, 12, and 36 after the AOM or saline treatment. Colonic mucosa were harvested at weeks 1, 12, or 36, and the colonic tumor tissues were examined for PKC and DAG kinase activities. Contents of the cecum were analyzed for bacterial 7 alpha-dehydroxylase and PI-PLC activities. Stool samples collected at week 12 were analyzed for bile acids. High corn oil content of the diet significantly increased the cecal bacterial 7 alpha-dehydroxylase and PI-PLC activities as compared to the diets with high fish oil or low corn oil content. Animals fed the HFCO diet excreted higher levels of secondary bile acids, such as deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid, than those fed the LFCO or HFFO diets. Carcinogen treatment significantly enhanced the activities of DAG kinase and total membrane PKC activities in colonic mucosa compared to saline treatment in all dietary groups. Animals treated with saline or AOM and fed HFCO showed increased levels of DAG kinase and membrane PKC activities in the colonic mucosa when compared to LFCO and HFFO groups. DAG kinase and membrane PKC activities were higher in colon tumors than in the surrounding colonic mucosa, and also increased levels of these enzyme activities were found in the HFCO diet group. These results indicate that the modifying effect of dietary fat on colonic bacterial enzymes, secondary bile acids, colonic mucosal and tumor DAG kinase, and PKC that may play a role in colon carcinogenesis depends on the types and amount of fat given. The colon tumor-enhancing effect of a HFCO diet in contrast to the high dietary fish oil may be, in part, explained on the basis of its modulating effect on these bacterial and colonic mucosal enzymes and colonic secondary bile acids relevant to colon tumor promotion.

Our previous studies have demonstrated that dietary benzylselenocyanate (BSC) and 1,4-phenylenebis (methylene) selenocyanate (p-XSC); organoselenium compounds, act as potential chemopreventive agents in colon carcinogenesis in F344 rats. As a part of a program aimed to develop less toxic and more effective chemopreventive organoselenium compounds than inorganic selenium and BSC, we evaluated the positional isomers of BSC namely o-, m-, and p-methoxy BSC and dibenzyl diselenide (DDS) for their potential chemopreventive properties using colonic epithelial cell proliferation as an efficacy endpoint. p-XSC and inorganic selenium, which were found to inhibit colon carcinogenesis in earlier preclinical efficacy study, were included as positive controls. Male F344 rats were fed the control diet containing 8 ppm Na2SeO3 or 10 ppm of each o-, m-, and p-methoxy BSC and DDS equivalent to 4.1 ppm Se or 20 ppm p-XSC (10 ppm Se) 2 weeks prior to carcinogen (AOM, 15 mg/kg body wt., once weekly for 2 weeks) administration and during and until 8 weeks after AOM treatment. Vehicle-control animals received an equal volume of normal saline. One hour prior to sacrifice, all animals were injected with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU, 20 mg/kg body wt.). Administration of o-, m-, and p-methoxy BSC, p-XSC, DDS, and Na2SeO3 resulted in decreased colonic labeling index in animal treated with AOM compared to control diet. Notably, p-XSC and Na2SeO3, which showed previously colon tumor inhibitory activity in preclinical efficacy study, were also effective in the present study. The results of our previous and current studies indicate that structurally modified synthetic organoselenium compounds may have great potential as chemopreventive agents.

Epidemiological and laboratory animal model studies suggest that the effect of dietary fat in colon carcinogenesis depends not only on the amount but on its fatty acid composition. Animal model studies demonstrated that high dietary corn oil or safflower oil rich in omega-6 fatty acids increased the colon tumor promotion, whereas diets containing fish oil high in omega-3 fatty acids had no such enhancing effect. One of the mechanisms by which high dietary fat enhances colon carcinogenesis may be through the modulation of colonic mucosal phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), which are dominant pathways for arachidonic acid release and formation of eicosanoids. PI-PLC is also responsible for diacylglycerol formation and protein kinase C-dependent signal transduction and cell proliferation. In the present study, we investigated the modulating effect of high fat diets rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids on colonic mucosal PLA2, PI-PLC activities, and eicosanoid (prostaglandins and thromboxane B2) formation from arachidonic acid via cyclooxygenase (COX) during different stages of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis in male F344 rats. At 5 weeks of age, groups of animals were fed the low-fat diet containing 5% corn oil. Beginning at 7 weeks of age, all animals except those intended for vehicle treatment received AOM s.c. once weekly for 2 weeks at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight. Vehicle-treated groups received an equal volume of normal saline. One day after the second AOM or vehicle treatment, groups of animals were transferred to experimental diets containing 23.5% corn oil and 20.5% fish oil + 3% corn oil, whereas one group continued on the low-fat diet containing 5% corn oil. Groups of animals were then sacrificed at weeks 1, 12, and 36 after the second AOM-or saline-treatment. Colonic mucosa harvested at weeks 1, 12, and 36 and colonic tumors obtained at week 36 were analyzed for PLA2, PI-PLC, and eicosanoid formation from arachidonic acid by the action of COX. The results demonstrate that colon carcinogen treatment increases the activities of colonic mucosal PLA2 and PI-PLC and the formation of prostaglandins and thromboxane A2 from arachidonic acid through COX throughout the study period compared to saline-treated animals fed similar diets. The activities of PLA2, PI-PLC, and COX were significantly higher in colon tumors compared to colonic mucosa. These results also demonstrate that a high-fat diet containing corn oil increases colonic mucosal and tumor PLA2 and PI-PLC and the formation of prostaglandins and thromboxane B2 by the action of COX as compared to low dietary corn oil or a diet high in fish oil. The results of our study offer one of the mechanisms by which the amount and types of dietary fat modulate colon carcinogenesis.

Naturally occurring and related synthetic isothiocyanates are known to exert chemopreventive effects in several organs in rodent models. The present study was designed to investigate the efficacy of 6-phenylhexyl isothiocyanate (PHITC), a potent chemopreventive agent in the lung tumor model in strain A mice, on azoxymethane-induced colon tumorigenesis. Another aim was to study the modulating effect of PHITC on colonic mucosal and tumor phospholipase A2 (PLA2), phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), lipoxygenase (LOX), and cyclooxygenase (COX) activities. At 5 weeks of age, groups of male F344 rats were fed control diet or diets containing 320 or 640 ppm of PHITC representing 40 and 80% maximum tolerated dose levels, respectively. At 7 weeks of age, all animals except those in the vehicle-treated groups were given two weekly s.c. injections of azoxymethane at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight/week. All animals continued on their respective dietary regimen for 52 weeks after the carcinogen treatment; then the study was terminated. Colonic mucosa and tumors were analyzed for PLA2, PI-PLC, prostaglandin (PG) E2, COX, and LOX activities. Intestinal tumors were evaluated histopathologically and classified as invasive or noninvasive adenocarcinomas. Intestinal tumor incidence (percentage of animals with tumors) and tumor multiplicity (tumors/animal; tumors/tumor-bearing animal) were compared among the dietary groups. At the 640-ppm dose level, dietary PHITC significantly increased the incidence of intestinal (small intestine plus colon) adenocarcinomas (P < 0.05) as well as the multiplicities of invasive and noninvasive adenocarcinomas of the colon (P < 0.05 to 0.01). At the 320-ppm dose level, PHITC increased the multiplicity (tumors/animal) of noninvasive adenocarcinomas and total (invasive plus noninvasive) adenocarcinomas of the colon (P < 0.05). Dietary PHITC also increased the colon tumor volume (2- to 4.3-fold) in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, PHITC significantly enhanced the activities of PLA2 (50-100%) and levels of PGE2 (2-fold) in the colonic mucosa and in tumors, but it had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on PI-PLC activity. The formation of COX metabolites, particularly PGE2, PGF2 alpha, PGD2, 6-keto PGF1 alpha, and thromboxane B2, as well as LOX metabolites such as 8(S)-, 12(S)- and 15 (S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids, were significantly increased in the colonic mucosa and tumors of animals that were fed 640 ppm of PHITC. Although the exact mechanism by which PHITC promotes colon tumorigenesis remains to be elucidated, it is likely that the tumor-promoting effects of PHITC may, at least in part, be related to increased eicosanoid metabolism in the colon.

Background & Aims: Rat colon neoplasms are distributed 60% in the distal colon (DC) and 40% in the proximal colon (PC), similar to distribution of colon cancers in the industrialized world. The effects of chemopreventive agents that affect colon tumor incidence on the distribution of colon tumors were studied., Methods: Colon tumor distribution, numbers, and volumes were measured in the DC and PC of rats administered azoxymethane (15 mg/kg subcutaneously 2x) as an initiating agent and fed diets containing various chemopreventive agents., Results: In control rats, azoxymethane-induced tumor incidence in the DC exceeded that in the PC, but tumor volume was greater in the PC than the DC. Ellagic acid showed no chemopreventive effect and maintained the PC-DC colon tumor gradient. Oltipraz, a modestly effective chemopreventive agent, principally reduced the incidence of DC tumors. DL-d-difluoromethylornithine also greatly altered tumor number in the DC compared with the PC. In contrast, piroxicam (400 ppm) reduced PC tumors by 82% but DC tumors only by 57%. With all regimens, tumor volume remained greater in the PC than the DC., Conclusions: Chemopreventive agents have a selective regional effect on colon tumorigenesis in the rat. Elucidation of the mechanism for these differences may help clarify the modes of action of chemopreventive agents in colon cancer.

The chemopreventive effect of 40 and 80% maximum tolerated dose (MTD) levels of ascorbylpalmitate (AP), carbenoxolone (CBX), dimethylfumarate (DMF) and p-methoxyphenol (p-MP) administrated in the diet before and during initiation and postinitiation phases of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis was studied in male F344 rats. The MTD levels of AP, CBX, DMF and p-MP were determined in male F344 rats and found to be 5000 1500, 1000 and 1000 ppm, respectively, in modified AIN-76A diet. Based on these MTD values, 40 and 80% MTD levels of each agent was tested for their efficacy in color carcinogenesis. At 5 weeks of age, groups of animals were fed the control (modified AIN-76A diet or diets containing 40 and 80% MTD levels of each AP, CBX, DMF and p-MP. At 7 weeks of age, all animals, except those in the vehicle (normal saline)-treated groups, were given two weekly s.c. injections of AOM at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight/week. All groups were continued on their respective dietary regimen until the termination of the experiment 52 weeks after the carcinogen treatment. Colonic tumors were evaluated histopathologically. The results indicate that dietary administration of 40% MTD of AP significantly inhibited multiplicities (tumor/animal) of noninvasive and total (invasive plus noninvasive) adenocarcinoma of the colon (P < 0.05) and 80% MTD of AP significantly inhibited the incidence (% animals with tumors) and the multiplicities of invasive and total adenocarcinomas of the colon (P < 0.01). Dietary CBX at 40 and 80% MTD levels suppressed the incidence and multiplicities of invasive and total adenocarcinomas (P < 0.05 to 0.001) whereas 40 and 80% MTD of DMF and p-MP had significantly inhibited invasive adenocarcinoma incidence and multiplicity (P < 0.05 to 0.001). However, DMF and p-MP had no significant effect on noninvasive and total adenocarcinoma incidence and multiplicity (P > 0.05). These results suggest that AP and CBX possess potential chemopreventive properties against colon cancer.

Previous studies from this laboratory have established that caffeic acid esters present in propolis, a natural resin produced by honey bees, are potent inhibitors of human colon adenocarcinoma cell growth, carcinogen-induced biochemical changes, and preneoplastic lesions in the rat colon. The present study was designed to investigate the chemopreventive action of dietary phenylethyl-3-methylcaffeate (PEMC) on azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis and to examine the modulating effect of PEMC on phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), phospholipase A2, lipoxygenase (LOX), and cyclooxygenase activities in the colonic mucosa and tumor tissues in male F344 rats. At 5 weeks of age, groups of rats were fed the control (modified AIN-76A) diet, or a diet containing 750 ppm of PEMC. At 7 weeks of age, all animals except those in the vehicle (normal saline)-treated groups were given 2 weekly s.c. injections of azoxymethane at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight/week. All groups were maintained on their respective dietary regimen until the termination of the experiment 52 weeks after the carcinogen treatment. Colonic tumors were evaluated histopathologically. Both colonic mucosa and tumors were analyzed for PI-PLC, phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase, and LOX activities. The results indicate that dietary administration of PEMC significantly inhibited the incidence and multiplicity of invasive, noninvasive, and total (invasive plus noninvasive) adenocarcinomas of the colon (P < 0.05-0.004). Dietary PEMC also suppressed the colon tumor volume by 43% compared to the control diet. Animals fed the PEMC diet showed significantly decreased activities of colonic mucosal and tumor PI-PLC (about 50%), but PEMC diet had no effect on phospholipase A2. The production of 5(S)-, 8(S)-, 12(S)-, and 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids via the LOX pathway from arachidonic acid was reduced in colonic mucosa and tumors (30-60%) of animals fed the PEMC diet as compared to control diet. PEMC had no effect on the formation of colonic mucosal cyclooxygenase metabolites but inhibited the formation in colonic tumors by 15-30%. The precise mechanism by which PEMC inhibits colon tumorigenesis remains to be elucidated. It is likely that the chemopreventive action may be related, at least in part, to the modulation of PI-PLC-dependent signal transduction and LOX-mediated arachidonic acid metabolism.

Epidemiological and laboratory animal model studies have suggested that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce the risk of development of colon cancer. The present study was designed to investigate the chemopreventive action of 160 and 320 ppm (equivalent to 40 and 80% maximum tolerated doses) sulindac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, fed during initiation and postinitiation stages and 320 ppm sulindac fed during promotion/progression stages of azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis in male F344 rats. Also investigated was the modulating effect of this agent on the colonic mucosal and tumor phospholipase A2, phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, lipoxygenase, and cyclooxygenase activities. At 5 weeks of age, groups of male F344 rats were fed control diet or diets containing 160 and 320 ppm of sulindac. At 7 weeks of age, all animals except those in the vehicle-treated groups were given two weekly s.c. injections of azoxymethane at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight/week. Animals intended for tumor promotion/progression study were administered 320 ppm of sulindac in diet starting at 14 weeks after a second azoxymethane treatment. All animals continued on their respective dietary regimen until the termination of the experiment at 52 weeks after the carcinogen treatment. Colonic tumors were evaluated histopathologically. Colonic mucosa and tumors were analyzed for phospholipase A2, phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, prostaglandin E2, cyclooxygenase, and lipoxygenase activities. The levels of sulindac and its metabolites in stomach, cecal, and fecal contents and in serum were analyzed. The results indicate that dietary sulindac at 160 and 320 ppm levels inhibited the incidence of invasive and noninvasive adenocarcinomas of the colon (P < 0.01-0.001) as well as their multiplicity (P < 0.01-0.0001) in a dose-dependent manner. Also, feeding sulindac during promotion/progression stages significantly suppressed the incidence (P < 0.0001) and multiplicity (P < 0.0001) of colonic adenocarcinomas. Dietary sulindac also suppressed the colon tumor volume by > 52-62% compared to the control diet. Dietary sulindac significantly decreased the activities of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (32-51%) and levels of prostaglandin E2 (> 40%) in the colonic mucosa and tumors, but it had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on phospholipase A2 activity. The formation of cyclooxygenase metabolites, particularly prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2 alpha, prostaglandin D2, 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha, and thromboxane B2, and lipoxygenase metabolites such as 8(S)- and 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids were significantly reduced in colonic mucosa and tumors of animals fed 320 ppm sulindac.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Human epidemiological and laboratory animal model studies have suggested that nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs reduce the risk of development of colon cancer and that the inhibition of colon carcinogenesis is mediated through the alteration in cyclooxygenase metabolism of arachidonic acid. Curcumin, which is a naturally occurring compound, is present in turmeric, possesses both antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties, and has been tested for its chemopreventive properties in skin and forestomach carcinogenesis. The present study was designed to investigate the chemopreventive action of dietary curcumin on azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis and also the modulating effect of this agent on the colonic mucosal and tumor phospholipase A2, phospholipase C gamma 1, lipoxygenase, and cyclooxygenase activities in male F344 rats. At 5 weeks of age, groups of animals were fed the control (modified AIN-76A) diet or a diet containing 2000 ppm of curcumin. At 7 weeks of age, all animals, except those in the vehicle (normal saline)-treated groups, were given two weekly s.c. injections of azoxymethane at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight. All groups were continued on their respective dietary regimen until the termination of the experiment at 52 weeks after the carcinogen treatment. Colonic tumors were evaluated histopathologically. Colonic mucosa and tumors were analyzed for phospholipase A2, phospholipase C gamma 1, ex vivo prostaglandin (PG) E2, cyclooxygenase, and lipoxygenase activities. The results indicate that dietary administration of curcumin significantly inhibited incidence of colon adenocarcinomas (P < 0.004) and the multiplicity of invasive (P < 0.015), noninvasive (P < 0.01), and total (invasive plus noninvasive) adenocarcinomas (P < 0.001). Dietary curcumin also significantly suppressed the colon tumor volume by > 57% compared to the control diet. Animals fed the curcumin diet showed decreased activities of colonic mucosal and tumor phospholipase A2 (50%) and phospholipase C gamma 1 (40%) and levels of PGE2 (> 38%). The formation of prostaglandins such as PGE2, PGF2 alpha, PGD2, 6-keto PGF1 alpha, and thromboxane B2 through the cyclooxygenase system and production of 5(S)-, 8(S)-, 12(S)-, and 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids via the lipoxygenase pathway from arachidonic acid were reduced in colonic mucosa and tumors of animals fed the curcumin diet as compared to control diet. Although the precise mechanism by which curcumin inhibits colon tumorigenesis remains to be elucidated, it is likely that the chemopreventive action, at least in part, may be related to the modulation of arachidonic acid metabolism.

As a part of a program aimed to develop less toxic and more effective chemopreventive organoselenium compounds than inorganic selenium, we have evaluated benzyl selenocyanate (BSC) and its o-, m-, p-nitro and -methoxy isomers, o-, m-, and p-isomers of phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate (XSC), dibenzyl diselenide (DDS), and 2,2'-diselenobis[((N,N-dimethylamino)methyl)- benzene]bis(hydrochloride salt) (DSBDB) for their potential colon tumor inhibitory properties using azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF), a preneoplastic lesion, in male F344 rats prior to preclinical efficacy study. In the first experiment, the effect of these agents administered during initiation and postinitiation periods of carcinogenesis was investigated. Male F344 rats were fed diets containing 8 ppm Na2SeO3 or 10 ppm of each BSC and its analogues, DDS and DSBDB or 20 ppm of each XSC analogue, two weeks prior to AOM (15 mg/kg body wt., once weekly for two weeks, s.c.) administration and during and until 8 weeks after AOM treatment. Formalin-fixed and methylene blue stained colons were scored for AOM-induced ACF using the light microscope. Taking body weight gains and multiplicity of 4 or more AC/focus, the inhibitory effects of Na2SeO3, o-, m- and p-methoxy-BSC, p-XSC and DDS were much greater than those of the other selenium compounds. In the second study, the effects of these agents when administered during the initiation or postinitiation periods were investigated. The results indicated that o-, m-, and p-methoxy-BSC, DDS and p-XSC significantly inhibited crypt multiplicity during the initiation period whereas o-, and p-methoxy-BSC, p-XSC and DDS suppressed crypt multiplicity during the postinitiation period. It is concluded that o-, and p-methoxy-BSC, p-XSC and DDS possess potential chemopreventive properties in colon cancer. Further studies are warranted to evaluated these agents for chemopreventive properties in preclinical efficacy studies.

Previous work from this laboratory established that caffeic acid esters, present in the propolis of honey bee hives, are potent inhibitors of human colon tumor cell growth, suggesting that these compounds may possess antitumor activity against colon carcinogenesis. The present study was designed to investigate (a) the inhibitory effects of methyl caffeate (MC) and phenylethyl caffeate (PEC) on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), tyrosine protein kinase (TPK), and arachidonic acid metabolism in liver and colonic mucosa of male F344 rats, (b) the effects of caffeic acid, MC, PEC, phenylethyl-3-methylcaffeate (PEMC), and phenylethyl dimethylcaffeate (PEDMC) on in vitro arachidonic acid metabolism in liver and colonic mucosa, and (c) the effects of PEC, PEMC, and PEDMC on AOM-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation in the colon of F344 rats. At 5 weeks of age, groups of animals were fed diets containing 600 ppm MC or PEC (biochemical study) or 500 ppm PEC, PEMC, or PEDMC (ACF study). Two weeks later, all animals except the vehicle-treated groups were given s.c. injections of AOM, once weekly for 2 weeks. The animals intended for the biochemical study were sacrificed 5 days later and colonic mucosa and liver were analyzed for ODC, TPK, lipoxygenase, and cyclooxygenase metabolites. The animals intended for the ACF study were sacrificed 9 weeks later and analyzed for ACF in the colon. The results indicate that the PEC diet significantly inhibited AOM-induced ODC (P < 0.05) and TPK (P < 0.001) activities in liver and colon. The PEC diet significantly (P < 0.001) suppressed the AOM-induced lipoxygenase metabolites 8(S)- and 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE). The animals fed the MC diet exhibited a moderate inhibitory effect on ODC and 5(S)-, 8(S)-, 12(S)-, and 15(S)-HETEs and a significant (P < 0.001) effect on colonic TPK activity. However, the MC and PEC diets showed no significant inhibitory effects on cyclooxygenase metabolism. In an in vitro study, caffeic acid and MC showed inhibitory effects on HETE formation only at a 100 microM concentration, whereas PEC, PEMC, and PEDMC suppressed in vitro HETE formation in a dose-dependent manner. AOM-induced colonic ACF were significantly inhibited in the animals fed PEC (55%), PEMC (82%), or PEDMC (81%). The results of the present study indicate that PEC, PEMC, and PEDMC, present in honey, inhibit AOM-induced colonic preneoplastic lesions, ODC, TPK, and lipoxygenase activity, which are relevant to colon carcinogenesis.

It has been reported that several naturally occurring and related synthetic organosulfur compounds exert chemopreventive effects in several target organs in rodent models. The chemopreventive actions of 40 and 80% maximum tolerated doses (MTD) of organosulfur compounds, namely anethole trithione, diallyl disulfide, N-acetylcysteine, and taurine, administered in AIN-76A diet, on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced neoplasia were investigated in male F344 rats. Also, the effects of these agents on the activities of phase II enzymes, namely glutathione S-transferase (GST), NAD(P)H-dependent quinone reductase, and UDP-glucuronosyl transferase, in the liver and colonic mucosa and tumors were assessed. The MTD levels of anethole trithione, diallyl disulfide, N-acetylcysteine, and taurine were determined in male F344 rats and found to be 250, 250, 1500, and 1500 ppm, respectively. At 5 weeks of age, animals were fed the control diet (AIN-76A) or experimental diets containing 40 or 80% MTD levels of each test agent. All animals in each group, except those allotted for vehicle (saline) treatment, were administered AOM s.c. at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body weight once weekly for 2 weeks. All animals were necropsied during week 52 after the second AOM injection. Colonic mucosal and tumor and liver enzyme activities were measured in animals fed 80% MTD levels of each test agent. Colon tumors were subjected to histopathological evaluation and classified as invasive or noninvasive adenocarcinomas. Colon tumor incidence (percentage of animals with tumors) and tumor multiplicity (tumors/animal) were compared among various dietary groups. The results indicated that administration of 200 ppm (80% MTD) anethole trithione significantly inhibited the incidence and multiplicity of both invasive and noninvasive adenocarcinomas, whereas feeding of 100 ppm (40% MTD) anethole trithione or 100 (40% MTD) or 200 ppm (80% MTD) diallyl disulfide suppressed only invasive adenocarcinomas of the colon. Although diets containing N-acetylcysteine and taurine inhibited colon tumor multiplicity, the effect was somewhat marginal. GST, NAD-(P)H-dependent quinone reductase, and UDP-glucuronosyl transferase activities in colonic mucosa and tumor and liver were significantly elevated in animals fed anethole trithione or diallyl disulfide, compared to those fed the control diet. N-Acetylcysteine and taurine slightly but significantly increased only the GST activity in the liver. Although other mechanisms are not excluded, inhibition of AOM-induced colon carcinogenesis by anethole trithione and diallyl disulfide may be associated, in part, with increased activities of phase II enzymes such as GST, NAD(P)H-dependent quinone reductase, and UDP-glucuronosyl transferase in the liver and colon.

Epidemiologic studies suggest that sustained use of aspirin may reduce the risk of development of and mortality due to colon cancer. Previous preclinical studies have shown that several non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs act as potential chemopreventive agents in experimentally induced colon cancer models. The present study was designed to investigate the chemopreventive effect of 40 and 80% maximum tolerated dose (MTD) levels of aspirin administered in the diet on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon carcinogenesis in male F344 rats. The MTD of aspirin as determined in male F344 rats was 500 p.p.m. Beginning at 5 weeks of age, all animals were randomly divided into various experimental groups (48 rats/group) and fed one of the semipurified diets containing 0, 200 p.p.m. (40% MTD), or 400 ppm (80% MTD) of aspirin. Two weeks later, all animals (36 rats/group) except the vehicle-treated groups (12 rats/group) were administered s.c. injections of AOM at a dose level of 15 mg/kg body wt, once weekly for 2 weeks. All animals were continued on their respective dietary regimen for additional 52 weeks and necropsied. Histopathologic evaluation of colon tumors was performed by routine procedures. Basal levels and ex vivo production of colonic mucosal and tumor prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were measured in all groups. The results indicate that daily oral administration of 200 and 400 p.p.m. aspirin significantly inhibited the incidence (% animals with tumors) and multiplicity (tumors/animal) of invasive adenocarcinomas of the colon as well as the size of adenocarcinomas. Colonic mucosal and tumor PGE2 levels (basal and ex vivo production) were significantly reduced in animals administered 200 and 400 p.p.m. aspirin. The results of this study support the epidemiologic evidence that ingestion of aspirin inhibits colon carcinogenesis. Although the precise mechanisms of aspirin-induced colon tumor inhibition remain to be determined, it is likely that the effect may be mediated through the modulation of prostaglandin synthesis.

Epidemiological and laboratory animal model studies suggest that the effect of dietary fat on colon carcinogenesis depends on the amount and its type. In the present study, we investigated the modulating effect of high-fat diets rich in omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids on liver, colon and small intestine mucosal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and tyrosine-specific protein kinase (TPK) activities and plasma, liver and colon mucosal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto PGF1 alpha) levels in male F344 rats. At 6 weeks of age, groups of animals were fed the low-fat diet containing 5% corn oil (LFCO), or high-fat diets containing 23.5% corn oil (HFCO), 23.5% olive oil (HFOO) and 20.5% fish oil + 3% corn oil (HFFO). Two weeks later, all animals except the vehicle-treated groups received azoxymethane (AOM) s.c. once weekly for 2 weeks at a dose rate of 15 mg/kg body wt. All animals were killed 5 days later and liver, colon and small intestine mucosa were analyzed for ODC, TPK and PGs and plasma for PGs. Carcinogen treatment enhanced the ODC and TPK activities (P < 0.0001) in the liver and colon of animals, irrespective of dietary treatment. Dietary HFCO compared with LFCO significantly increased the ODC (P < 0.01) and membrane TPK (P < 0.05) activities in the liver and colon of carcinogen-treated animals, whereas the HFOO and HFFO diets significantly (P < 0.002) suppressed the ODC and membrane TPK (P < 0.05) activities in the liver and colon mucosa compared with the HFCO diet. Carcinogen treatment also significantly (P < 0.01) increased the PG levels in plasma, liver and colon. Feeding of the HFFO diet significantly suppressed both the basal levels and ex vivo production of PGE2 and 6-keto PGF1 alpha levels compared with the HFCO diet, whereas the HFOO diet only decreased PGE2 in liver and colon. These results thus demonstrate that high levels of corn oil in the diet increase colon and liver ODC, TPK and PGs whereas high dietary levels of fish oil and olive oil suppress these activities.

Oltipraz [5-(2-pyrazinyl)-4-methyl-1,2-dithiole-3-thione], a substituted 1,2-dithiole-3-thione, protects against the acute and chronic toxicities of many xenobiotics and prevents chemically induced carcinogenicity in several target organs of rodents. The effects of dietary oltipraz, fed during the initiation and postinitiation stages, on azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis and on the levels of several detoxifying enzymes, namely, glutathione S-transferase, NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, and UDP-glucurinyl transferase activities, were studied in male F344 rats. At 5 weeks of age, groups of animals were fed the control diet (modified AIN-76A diet) or a diet containing 200 ppm (40% maximum tolerated dose) of oltipraz. At 7 weeks of age, all animals except those in the vehicle (normal saline solution)-treated groups were given two weekly s.c. injections of azoxymethane at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight. Three days after the second injection of azoxymethane, the groups of animals fed the oltipraz diet were transferred to the control diet (termed the initiation period) and the groups of animals receiving the control diet were transferred to the oltipraz diet (termed the postinitiation period). All groups were continued on this regimen until the termination of the experiment at 52 weeks after the carcinogen treatment. Intestinal tumors were evaluated histopathologically using routine procedures. Liver, colonic mucosa, and tumors were analyzed for glutathione S-transferase, NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, and UDP-glucurinyl transferase activities. The results indicate that oltipraz administered during the initiation stage significantly inhibited the incidence and multiplicity of invasive adenocarcinomas of the colon (P < 0.001), as well as the multiplicity of invasive and noninvasive adenocarcinomas (P < 0.01). Feeding of oltipraz during the postinitiation phase completely suppressed the formation of invasive adenocarcinomas (P < 0.0001) and significantly inhibited the formation of noninvasive and total adenocarcinomas, as well as the multiplicity (tumors/tumor-bearing animal, P < 0.001). Furthermore, oltipraz significantly suppressed the tumor volume when administered during the initiation phase (> 80%) or the postinitiation (> 93%) phase. Animals fed the oltipraz diet during the postinitiation stage showed increased levels of glutathione S-transferase, NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, and UDP-glucurinyl transferase activities (2-6-fold). Although the precise mechanism by which oltipraz inhibits colon tumor initiation and/or promotion remains to be elucidated, it is likely that the effect during the initiation stage may be due to an alteration of carcinogen metabolism.

Propolis, a honey bee hive product, is thought to exhibit a broad spectrum of activities including antibiotic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and tumor growth inhibition; some of the observed biological activities may be due to caffeic acid (cinnamic acid) esters that are present in propolis. In the present study we synthesized three caffeic acid esters, namely methyl caffeate (MC), phenylethyl caffeate (PEC) and phenylethyl dimethylcaffeate (PEDMC) and tested them against the 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl, (DMAB, a colon and mammary carcinogen)-induced mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98 and TA 100. Also, the effect of these agents on the growth of human colon adenocarcinoma, HT-29 cells and activities of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) was studied. Mutagenicity was induced in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98 and TA 100 plus S9 activation using 5 and 10 micrograms DMAB and antimutagenic activities of 0-150 microM MC, 0-60 microM PEC and 0-80 microM PEDMC were determined. The results indicate that MC, PEC and PEDMC were not mutagenic in the Salmonella tester system. DMAB-induced mutagenicity was significantly inhibited with 150 microM MC, 40-60 microM PEC and 40-80 microM PEDMC in both tester systems. Treatment of HT-29 colon adenocarcinoma cells with > 150 microM MC, 30 microM PEC and 20 microM PEDMC significantly inhibited the cell growth and syntheses of RNA, DNA and protein. ODC and PTK activities were also inhibited in HT-29 cells treated with different concentrations of MC, PEC and PEDMC. These results demonstrate that caffeic acid esters which are present in Propolis possess chemopreventive properties when tested in short-term assay systems.

The chemopreventive action of 40 and 80% maximum tolerated dose (MTD) levels of piroxicam, D,L-alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DMFO), 16 alpha-fluoro-5-androsten-17-one (DHEA analogue 8354), and ellagic acid (EA) administered in diet individually and in combination before and during initiation and postinitiation phases of azoxymethane-induced neoplasia of the intestine was studied in male F344 rats. The MTD levels of piroxicam, DFMO, DHEA analogue, and EA were determined in male F344 rats and found to be 500, 5,000, 500, and 10,000 ppm, respectively, in modified AIN-76A diet. When these agents were fed in combination, the MTD levels were: piroxicam plus DFMO, 250 and 2500 ppm; piroxicam plus DHEA analogue, 250 and 250 ppm; piroxicam plus EA, 250 and 5000 ppm; piroxicam plus DFMO plus DHEA analogue, 250, 2500, and 250 ppm; and piroxicam plus DFMO plus EA, 250, 2500, and 5000 ppm. From these MTD values, 40 and 80% MTD levels were calculated and tested for their efficacy. At 5 weeks of age, animals were fed the modified AIN-76A (control) diet and experimental diets containing 40 and 80% MTD levels of piroxicam, DFMO, DHEA analogue, and EA individually and in combination. At 7 weeks of age, all animals except the vehicle-treated groups were administrated s.c. injections of azoxymethane (15 mg/kg body weight/week for 2 weeks). Animals intended for vehicle treatment received s.c. injections of an equal volume of normal saline. Fifty-two weeks after azoxymethane and saline treatment all the animals were necropsied, and colon and small intestinal tumor incidence (percentage of animals with tumors) and multiplicity (tumors/animal) were compared among various dietary groups. The results indicate that 40 and 80% MTD levels of dietary piroxicam and DFMO significantly (P less than 0.001) inhibited colon and small intestinal tumor incidence and multiplicity. DHEA analogue at 40% MTD level significantly decreased the small intestinal and colon tumor incidences (P less than 0.05), whereas 80% MTD of DHEA analogue inhibited only small intestinal tumor incidence. EA at 40 and 80% MTDs had no significant effect on colon tumor incidence (P greater than 0.05), but 80% MTD of EA showed a significant inhibitory effect on the incidence of small intestinal adenocarcinomas (P less than 0.01). In the combination study, 40 and 80% MTD levels of piroxicam plus DFMO significantly (P less than 0.001) inhibited colon adenocarcinoma incidence (8.3%) and multiplicity (0.08 +/- 0.04) (SE) when compared to colon adenocarcinoma incidence (72.2%) and multiplicity (1.14 +/- 0.18) in control diet-fed animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Epidemiologic studies suggest that the consumption of cruciferous vegetables is associated with a reduced risk for several types of cancer including cancer of colon. Experimental studies indicate that dithiolthiones, naturally occurring substances in cruciferous vegetables, possess anticarcinogenic properties. 5-(2-Pyrazinyl)-4-methyl-1,2-dithiol-3-thione (oltipraz), a substituted dithiolthione, has been tested for its chemopreventive activity. We studied the effect of dietary oltipraz on liver and colonic mucosal enzymes and DNA adducts to evaluate the modulating role of this agent during the early period of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced carcinogenesis. At 6 weeks of age, groups of animals were fed the AIN-76A diet containing 0 and 300 ppm oltipraz. At 8 weeks of age, all of the animals except vehicle-treated animals were administered a subcutaneous injection of AOM (15 mg/kg body wt/week for 2 weeks). Animals intended for vehicle treatment were administered normal saline subcutaneously. Fifteen hours after the second AOM injection, six animals each from control oltipraz diet groups were sacrificed and liver and colonic mucosa from each animal were used for DNA adduct analysis. Animals intended for liver and colonic mucosal glutathione S-transferase, tyrosine specific protein kinase (TPK), and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) enzyme assays were killed 5 days after the second AOM or saline injection. The results of this study indicated that dietary oltipraz significantly increased liver (P less than 0.001) and colonic mucosal (P greater than 0.05) weights, but had no effect on body weights (P greater than 0.05). In saline-treated animals, feeding of oltipraz significantly increased the cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (P less than 0.001) and ODC (P less than 0.05) activities in the liver and colon when compared with those fed the control diet. Although our unpublished results indicate an inhibitory role of oltipraz when fed during the initiation and postinitiation phases of intestinal carcinogenesis, the increased ODC activity may indicate a possible role of oltipraz in colon tumor promotion. Additional studies are indicated to test the antitumor properties of oltipraz administered during the postinitiation phases. AOM treatment significantly increased the TPK (P less than 0.0001) and ODC (P less than 0.01) activities in the liver and colon of animals fed the control diet. Dietary oltipraz significantly suppressed the AOM-induced TPK (P less than 0.001) activities in liver and colon and ODC (P less than 0.01) activity of colon. Analysis of nucleic acid bases, O6-methylguanine, and 7-methylguanine revealed that dietary oltipraz significantly (P less than 0.05) inhibited the AOM-induced adduct species. These results suggest that dietary oltipraz enhances the colonic and liver glutathione S-transferase activity and reduced the formation of DNA adducts. In addition, dietary oltipraz modulates liver and colonic ODC and TPK activities that have been shown to play a role in tumor promotion.

The effect of dietary benzylselenocyanate (BSC) and its analogue, benzylthiocyanate (BTC), and sodium selenite during the initiation and postinitiation phases of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced intestinal carcinogenesis was studied in male F344 rats. Animals intended for initiation study were fed the high-fat (23.5% corn oil) diets containing 25, 50, and 100 ppm BSC (10, 20, and 40 ppm selenium, respectively) and 100 ppm BTC and 4 ppm selenium (as sodium selenite in drinking water); those intended for postinitiation study were fed the high-fat control diet. Two weeks later, all animals were injected subcutaneously with AOM (15 mg/kg body wt) once weekly for two weeks. Three days after the last AOM injection, animals in the initiation and postinitiation studies were transferred respectively to the high-fat diet and high-fat diets containing BSC and BTC and sodium selenite in drinking water. This regimen was continued until 36 weeks post-AOM injection. BSC inhibited the small intestinal and colon adenocarcinoma incidence and multiplicity of colon adenocarcinomas when fed during the postinitiation phase. Sodium selenite inhibited the incidence and multiplicity of colon adenocarcinomas only during the postinitiation phase. BTC had no inhibitory effect when fed during the initiation and postinitiation phases. The colonic mucosal ornithine decarboxylase activity was significantly inhibited by the administration of all three compounds, BSC (78%), BTC (62%), and sodium selenite (44%). It is concluded that the BSC has an inhibitory effect on the intestinal carcinogenesis in animals fed the high-fat diet.