%0 Journal Article
%T Similar reductions in the risk of human colon cancer by selective and nonselective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors
%A Randall E Harris
%A Joanne Beebe-Donk
%A Galal A Alshafie
%J BMC Cancer
%D 2008
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1471-2407-8-237
%X We conducted a case control study of colon cancer designed to compare effects of selective and non-selective COX-2 inhibitors. A total of 326 incident colon cancer patients were ascertained from the James Cancer Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, during 2003¨C2004 and compared with 652 controls with no history of cancer and matched to the cases at a 2:1 ratio on age, race, and county of residence. Data on the past and current use of prescription and over the counter medications and colon cancer risk factors were ascertained using a standardized risk factor questionnaire. Effects of COX-2 inhibiting agents were quantified by calculating odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals.Results showed significant risk reductions for selective COX-2 inhibitors (OR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.16¨C0.57), regular aspirin (OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.20¨C0.56), and ibuprofen or naproxen (0.28, 95% CI = 0.15¨C0.54). Acetaminophen, a compound with negligible COX-2 activity and low dose aspirin (81 mg) produced no significant change in the risk of colon cancer.These results suggest that both non-selective and selective COX-2 inhibitors produce significant reductions in the risk of colon cancer, underscoring their strong potential for colon cancer chemoprevention.Among American men and women, colon cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed malignancy and third leading cause of cancer death [1]. In the past two decades, incidence and mortality rates for colon cancer have declined by more than 20% in women and men [1,2]. While some authors attribute these downward trends to early detection and more effective therapy [2], the exact reasons are not yet fully understood. One factor that may have contributed to these declines is the widespread intake of aspirin, ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)[3]. Among 22 published epidemiologic studies that focused on the association between intake of NSAIDs and the risk of human colon cancer, 20 reported statistically significant risk reduc
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/8/237