Ursodeoxycholic acid and cancer prevention

Along with the great progress in the fight against malignant neoplasms through the improvement of surgical care and the development of chemotherapy, the search for strategies and opportunities to prevent cancer is becoming increasingly important and promising. Early detection and rational treatment of chronic precancerous diseases must be a priority. In this regard, the possible role of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA, ursosan, etc.) has been closely studied in recent years. An overview of the role of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in the prevention of cancer is presented. The pathogenetic basis of this action is the proven normalizing effect of UDCA on bile acid metabolism, microbiome condition and apoptosis. The paper summarizes the latest data on the ability of UDCA to withstand malignization in the liver, throughout the gastrointestinal tract and beyond. These numerous experimental and clinical studies allow us to assert that UDCA drugs, except for the well-known and versatile hepatoprotective effect, can be considered as effective and promising means of cancer prevention throughout the digestive tract and associated organs. Further research into the broad spectrum of UDCA’s ability to prevent gastrointestinal malignization and beyond is reasonable and promising.