1984 Volume 144 Issue 3 Pages 237-243
NARISAWA, T., HERMANEK, P., NABS, M. and SCHMÄHL, D. Reduction of Acetoxymethyl-Methylnitrosamine-Induced Large Bowel Cancer in Rats by Indomethacin. Tohoku J. exp. Med., 1984, 144 (3), 237-243 - The nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin, a potent prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, may play a role in preventing chemically-induced large bowel cancer development in rats. 250male Sprague-Dawley rats were given weekly intrarectal doses of 2mg/kg body weight of acetoxymethyl-methylnitrosamine (AMMN) in the first 10 weeks of the experiment to induce large bowel tumors. Experimental groups received a 0.001% aqueous solution of indomethacin ad libitum as drinking water for different time intervals. At autopsy in week 21, the indomethacin treatment in the first and second 10-week periods, or only in the second 10-week period significantly reduced the number of large bowel tumors compared to non-treatment control groups, while the treatment in the first 10-week period alone did not affect the tumor development. It was observed at autopsy in week 31 that the 10-week cessation of treatment after the effective treatments permitted the growth of tumors, but the treatment in the first and second 10-week periods was effective enough to supperss tumor apperance compared to other groups. It can be concluded that indomethacin has an antiproliferative activity on large bowel carcinogenesis.
