dinoprost and Colonic-Neoplasms

Whilst in the early stages, neoplastic development is predominantly triggered by environmental genotoxic and non-genotoxic carcinogens, tumour progression becomes more and more autonomous at later stages. In this context a dysregulation of arachidonic acid metabolism seems to play a disastrous role. Conversely, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) rank among the most potent and most promising agents for cancer chemoprevention probably because of their ability to inhibit prostaglandin biosynthesis, in particular, at the level of the 'pro-inflammatory' enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). A pathological overexpression of COX-2 resulting in excessive prostaglandin production has been found already in early stages of carcinogenesis and seems to be a consistent feature of neoplastic development in a wide variety of tissues. COX-2 overexpression is thought to occur along signalling pathways of inflammation and tissue repair which become activated in the course of tumour promotion and, due to autocrine and auto-stimulatory mechanisms, finally lead to some autonomy of tumour development (self-promotion). Prostaglandins formed along a dysregulated COX pathway have been shown to mediate tumour promotion in animal experiments and may play a role, in addition, in other processes involved in tumour growth such as angiogenesis, metastasis and immunosuppression. Moreover, genotoxic byproducts such as organic free radicals, reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde produced in the course of prostanoid biosynthesis may contribute to genetic instability (mutator phenotype) of neoplastic cells thereby promoting malignant progression. Such mixtures of physiologically highly active mediators and genotoxic byproducts are, in addition, formed along the various lipoxygenase-catalysed pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism some of which also become dysregulated during tumour development and, therefore, provide novel targets of future chemopreventive approaches.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Arachidonic Acids; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Colonic Neoplasms; Cyclooxygenase 2; Dinoprost; Down-Regulation; Eicosanoids; Humans; Isoenzymes; Membrane Proteins; Mice; Neoplasms, Experimental; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Prostaglandins; Signal Transduction; Skin Neoplasms

The actions of prostanoids in various physiological and pathophysiological conditions have been being examined using mice lacking different prostanoid receptors. Prostaglandin (PG) I2 worked not only as a mediator of inflammation but also as an antithrombotic agent. PGF2alpha was found to be an essential inducer of labor. Several important actions of PGE2 are exerted via each of the four PGE2 receptor subtypes: EP1, EP2, EP3 and EP4. PGE2 participated in colon carcinogenesis via the EP1. PGE2 also participates in ovulation and fertilization and contributes to the control of blood pressure under high-salt intake via the EP2. PGE2 worked as a mediator of febrile responses to both endogenous and exogenous pyrogens and as a regulator of bicarbonate secretion induced by acid-stimulation in the duodenum via the EP3. It regulated the closure of ductus arteriosus and showed bone resorbing action via the EP4. PGD2 was found to be a mediator of allergic asthma. These studies have revealed important roles of prostanoids, some of which had not previously been known.

Topics: Animals; Asthma; Bicarbonates; Colonic Neoplasms; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Female; Fever; Hypertension; Inflammation; Labor, Obstetric; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Pregnancy; Prostaglandins; Receptors, Prostaglandin; Reproduction; Thrombosis; Thromboxane A2

The cancer preventive activity of vitamin E has been extensively discussed, but the activities of specific forms of tocopherols have not received sufficient attention. Herein, we compared the activities of δ-tocopherol (δ-T), γ-T, and α-T in a colon carcinogenesis model. Male F344 rats, seven weeks old, were given two weekly subcutaneous injections of azoxymethane (AOM) each at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight. Starting 1 week before the AOM injection, the animals were maintained on a modified AIN76A diet, or the same diet containing 0.2% of δ-T, γ-T, α-T, or a γ-T-rich mixture of tocopherols (γ-TmT), until the termination of the experiment at 8 weeks after the second AOM injection. δ-T treatment showed the strongest inhibitory effect, decreasing the numbers of aberrant crypt foci by 62%. γ-T and γ-TmT were also effective, but α-T was not. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that δ-T and γ-T treatments reduced the levels of 4-hydroxynonenal and nitrotyrosine and the expression of cyclin D1 in the colon, preserved the expression of PPAR-γ, and decreased the serum levels of prostaglandin E2 and 8-isoprostane. Supplementation with 0.2% δ-T, γ-T, or α-T increased the respective levels of tocopherols and their side-chain degradation metabolites in the serum and colon tissues. Rather high concentrations of δ-T and γ-T and their metabolites were found in colon tissues. Our study provides the first evidence for the much higher cancer preventive activity of δ-T and γ-T than α-T in a chemically induced colon carcinogenesis model. It further suggests that δ-T is more effective than γ-T.

Topics: Aldehydes; alpha-Tocopherol; Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Azoxymethane; Colonic Neoplasms; Cyclin D1; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; gamma-Tocopherol; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Models, Chemical; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Tocopherols; Tyrosine

We investigated the effects of a gamma-tocopherol-rich mixture of tocopherols (gamma-TmT, containing 57% gamma-T, 24% delta-T, and 13% alpha-T) on colon carcinogenesis in azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-treated mice. In experiment 1, 6-week-old male CF-1 mice were given a dose of AOM (10 mg/kg body weight, i.p.), and 1 week later, 1.5% DSS in drinking water for 1 week. The mice were maintained on either a gamma-TmT (0.3%)-enriched or a standard AIN93M diet, starting 1 week before the AOM injection, until the termination of experiment. In the AOM/DSS-treated mice, dietary gamma-TmT treatment resulted in a significantly lower colon inflammation index (52% of the control) on day 7 and number of colon adenomas (9% of the control) on week 7. gamma-TmT treatment also resulted in higher apoptotic index in adenomas, lower prostaglandin E2, leukotriene B4, and nitrotyrosine levels in the colon, and lower prostaglandin E2, leukotriene B4, and 8-isoprostane levels in the plasma on week 7. Some of the decreases were observed even on day 7. In experiment 2 with AOM/DSS- treated mice sacrificed on week 21, dietary 0.17% or 0.3% gamma-TmT treatment, starting 1 week before the AOM injection, significantly inhibited adenocarcinoma and adenoma formation in the colon (to 17-33% of the control). Dietary 0.3% gamma-TmT that was initiated after DSS treatment also exhibited a similar inhibitory activity. The present study showed that gamma-TmT effectively inhibited colon carcinogenesis in AOM/DSS-treated mice, and the inhibition may be due to the apoptosis-inducing, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and reactive nitrogen species-trapping activities of tocopherols.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adenoma; Animals; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Azoxymethane; Carcinogens; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Cocarcinogenesis; Colon; Colonic Neoplasms; Dextran Sulfate; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; gamma-Tocopherol; Inflammation; Leukotriene B4; Male; Mice; Tyrosine

The relationship between growth and alterations in arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in human breast (MCF-7) and colon (SW480) cancer cells was studied. Four different fatty acid preparations were evaluated: a mixture of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers (c9,t11, t10,c12, c11,t13, and minor amounts of other isomers), the pure c9,t11-CLA isomer, the pure t10,c12-CLA isomer, and linoleic acid (LA) (all at a lipid concentration of 16 microg/mL). 14C-AA uptake into the monoglyceride fraction of MCF-7 cells was significantly increased following 24 h incubation with the CLA mixture (P < 0.05) and c9,t11-CLA (P < 0.02). In contrast to the MCF-7 cells, 14C-AA uptake into the triglyceride fraction of the SW480 cells was increased while uptake into the phospholipids was reduced following treatment with the CLA mixture (P < 0.02) and c9,t11-CLA (P < 0.05). Distribution of 14C-AA among phospholipid classes was altered by CLA treatments in both cell lines. The c9,t11-CLA isomer decreased (P < 0.05) uptake of 14C-AA into phosphatidylcholine while increasing (P < 0.05) uptake into phosphatidylethanolamine in both cell lines. Both the CLA mixture and the t10,c12-CLA isomer increased (P < 0.01) uptake of 14C-AA into phosphatidylserine in the SW480 cells but had no effect on this phospholipid in the MCF-7 cells. Release of 14C-AA derivatives was not altered by CLA treatments but was increased (P < 0.05) by LA in the SW480 cell line. The CLA mixture of isomers and c9,t11-CLA isomer inhibited 14C-AA conversion to 14C-prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by 20-30% (P < 0.05) while increasing 14C-PGF2alpha by 17-44% relative to controls in both cell lines. LA significantly (P < 0.05) increased 14C-PGD2 by 13-19% in both cell lines and increased 14C-PGE2 by 20% in the SW480 cell line only. LA significantly (P < 0.05) increased 5-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoate by 27% in the MCF-7 cell line. Lipid peroxidation, as determined by increased levels of 8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha (8-epi-PGF2alpha), was observed following treatment with c9,t11-CLA isomer in both cell lines (P < 0.02) and with t10,c12-CLA isomer in the MCF-7 cell line only (P < 0.05). These data indicate that the growth-promoting effects of LA in the SW480 cell line may be associated with enhanced conversion of AA to PGE2 but that the growth-suppressing effects of CLA isomers in both cell lines may be due to changes in AA distribution among cellular lipids and an altered prostaglandin profile.

Topics: Arachidonic Acid; Breast Neoplasms; Carbon Radioisotopes; Cell Survival; Colonic Neoplasms; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Humans; Leukotriene B4; Leukotrienes; Linoleic Acid; Prostaglandin D2; Tumor Cells, Cultured

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,

Topics: Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Colonic Neoplasms; Diacylglycerol Kinase; Dietary Fats; Dinoprost; F2-Isoprostanes; Male; Organoselenium Compounds; Protein Kinase C; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344

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 effect

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Azoxymethane; Carcinogens; Colon; Colonic Neoplasms; Dinoprost; Drug Synergism; F2-Isoprostanes; Genistein; Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases; Intestinal Mucosa; Isoflavones; Male; Neoplasms, Experimental; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344

We have investigated the modulatory effect of dietary perilla oil which is rich in the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid, on the development of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in male F344 rats. Animals were given three weekly subcutaneous injections of AOM (15 mg/kg body weight) to induce ACE. The rats were fed a basal diet containing either 12% olive oil, 12% safflower oil, 12% perilla oil, 6% perilla oil plus 6% olive oil, or 3% perilla oil plus 9% olive oil for 5 weeks, starting 1 week before the first dosing of AOM. All rats were sacrificed 2 weeks after the last AOM injection. The amount of food consumed and body weight gain were identical among every dietary group. The frequency of ACF was significantly lower in the rats fed 12% perilla oil than in those fed 12% olive oil or 12% safflower oil (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). The suppressive effect of perilla oil was dose-dependent, as the number of ACF was 20.7, 40.7 and 47.4% of those of the 12% olive oil-fed controls in rats fed 12% perilla oil, 6% perilla oil plus 6% olive oil and 3% perilla oil plus 9% olive oil, respectively. Perilla oil significantly reduced ras expression as well as the AgNORs count (cell proliferation biomarkers) in the colonic mucosa, as compared with olive oil or safflower oil (P < 0.01, respectively). Marked increases in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in membrane phospholipid fractions and decreased PGE2 levels were observed in colonic mucosa of perilla oil-fed rats. These results suggest that perilla oil, even in small amounts, suppresses the development of aberrant crypt foci, and is therefore a possible preventive agent in the early stage of colon carcinogenesis.

Topics: alpha-Linolenic Acid; Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Azoxymethane; Body Weight; Carcinogens; Cell Division; Colon; Colonic Neoplasms; Dinoprost; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Eating; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Intestinal Mucosa; Male; Nucleolus Organizer Region; Phospholipids; Plant Oils; Precancerous Conditions; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Silver Staining

Eicosanoids have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer and are known to regulate the expression of antigens of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). In human colon cancer, we have recently observed that: (a) the expression of MHC class I and II antigens are markedly reduced; and (b) the levels of PGE2, but not of PGF2 alpha and LTB4, are elevated compared to histologically normal mucosa. Therefore, we investigated the effect of PGE2, PGF2 alpha and LTB4 on the regulation of MHC class I antigens in two human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines and in a murine model of colon cancer. None of these eicosanoids had any significant effect on the expression of MHC class I antigens in the human colonocytes or the transcription rate of class I genes, with the exception of LTB4 which only modestly suppressed the transcription rate. Similarly, 16, 16-dimethyl-PGE2 had no effect on the expression of MHC class I genes in the colonocytes of BALB/c mice treated with the carcinogen dimethylhydrazine. We conclude that PGE2, PGF2 alpha and LTB4 did not affect the expression of MHC class I antigens in cultured human colon adenocarcinoma cells, and 16, 16-dimethyl PGE2 did not affect their expression in mice, even when mice were treated with a colon carcinogen. Thus, these eicosanoids are an unlikely regulator of the observed underexpression of MHC class I antigens in human colon cancer.

Topics: 16,16-Dimethylprostaglandin E2; Adenocarcinoma; Animals; Colon; Colonic Neoplasms; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Eicosanoids; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes, MHC Class I; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; Humans; Leukotriene B4; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Prostaglandins (PG) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer and play an important role in immune regulation. Colon cancer is associated with elevated levels of PGE2, while aspirin, the prototypical inhibitor of PG synthesis, appears to reduce the incidence of colon cancer by 50%. We have observed that in human colon cancer the expression of HLA class I and II antigens is reduced or lost; loss of HLA antigens is suspected to be a mechanism by which the malignant cell escapes the immune surveillance. We investigated the effect of these eicosanoids on the expression of HLA antigens in human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines. PGE2 down-regulated the expression of the class II antigen HLA-DR in SW1116 cells (65% reduction at 2.8 x 10(-8) M). This effect was dose- and time-dependent, reversible, and specific (PGF2 alpha and LTB4 had no effect; the expression of carcinoembryonic antigen and class I genes were not affected). Aspirin induced the expression of HLA-DR in HT29 cells, a cell line not expressing constitutively HLA-DR. The reduction of HLA-DR by PGE2 was accompanied by reduced messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of HLA-DR alpha and reduced transcription of the corresponding gene. In contrast to HLA-DR, none of these three eicosanoids affected the expression of HLA class I genes, as assessed via determination of protein expression by fluorescence flow cytometric analysis and evaluation of the corresponding class I mRNA levels. We conclude that PGE2 specifically down-regulates the expression of HLA-DR, while it does not affect the expression of class I antigens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aspirin; Base Sequence; Cell Line; Colonic Neoplasms; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; DNA Primers; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; HLA-DR Antigens; Humans; Leukotriene B4; Molecular Sequence Data; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Tumor Cells, Cultured

To understand the relationship between zinc and prostaglandin (PG) metabolisms in inducing colon cancer incidence in human and animals.. Human colonic tumor and normal cells were obtained from Departments of Surgery and Pathology at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA and US VA Medical Center, North Hills, CA. Rat colonic tumor and normal cells were isolated from the rats that received two injections of 50 mg/kg of Azoxymethan (AOM) in 2 weeks and then kept 30 weeks in the animal facility. Then, the effects of zinc on the PGE2 synthesis and PGE2 on zinc metabolism in tumor and normal cells were determined.. PGE2 concentrations in both human and AOM-induced rat colonic tumor cells increased compared to those in adjacent normal colonocytes, whereas PGF2 alpha concentrations did not change. Gene expression of inducible form of prostaglandin synthase (PGS-2) is stimulated in rat colonocytes by epidermal growth factor and by tetradecanoyl 13-phorbol acetate (a tumor promoter and mitogen) only in the presence of zinc. PGE2 binding activity of rat enterocytes was maximum at 15 microM of zinc (normal plasma zinc concentration), but PGE2 synthesis activity increased for the first 15 minutes when extracellular zinc concentrations were either higher or lower than the normal extracellular zinc concentration. However, variations in extracellular zinc concentrations did not change the rate of PGF2 alpha synthesis in the normal rat enterocytes. PGE2 significantly increased zinc uptake rates of colonic tumor cells but PGF2 alpha showed only moderate effect.. These results suggest that zinc is required for PGS-2 gene expression, that maintaining an optimal zinc nutriture is important for normal PG synthesis of intestinal cells, and that only PGE2 synthesis mechanisms rather than PGS-2 gene expression are altered in colonic tumor cells resulting in the abnormal zinc nutriture of these cells.

Topics: Animals; Azoxymethane; Base Sequence; Carcinogens; Colonic Neoplasms; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; DNA, Neoplasm; Epidermal Growth Factor; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Humans; Molecular Sequence Data; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; Rats; RNA, Messenger; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Zinc

Dietary fat, arachidonic acid metabolism and lipid peroxidation have all been implicated in colorectal carcinogenesis. Fatty acids, prostaglandins (PGE2, PGF2 alpha) and malondialdehyde (MDA), the stable end-product of lipid peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), were studied in paired tumour and normal mucosa of 20 patients with colorectal cancer. Levels of arachidonic acid and total PUFAs were increased in the phospholipid fraction of tumours (P < 0.05). Levels of PGE2 and MDA were also higher in tumours (P < 0.001) and there was a significant correlation between MDA and PGE2 concentrations (rs = 0.69, P < 0.01). In contrast to previously reported in vitro studies, this work suggests that lipid peroxidation may be enhanced in human colorectal tumours. As PGE2 and MDA have been shown to be involved in carcinogenesis, these may be considered potential therapeutic targets for preventing or treating colorectal carcinoma.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Colonic Neoplasms; Colorectal Neoplasms; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Malondialdehyde; Middle Aged; Prostaglandins; Rectal Neoplasms

In a study of 54 patients with a variety of lesions, prostaglandin F2 alpha pharmacoangiography produced vasoconstrictive effects in both neoplastic and inflammatory lesions of the colon. These effects occurred only at the affected sites and their immediate vicinity. Vasoconstriction seemed to correlate directly with the vascularity of the lesion, rather than with pathogenesis. Less marked vasoconstriction was seen in renal lesions. No vasoconstrictive effects were recognized in liver, soft tissue, or bone tumors. Thus prostaglandin F2 alpha acts as a vasodilator in normal human colonic vessels, while it acts as a vasoconstrictor in colonic lesions. The potential use of prostaglandin F2 alpha in the control of bleeding colonic lesions is also discussed.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Angiography; Colon; Colonic Diseases; Colonic Neoplasms; Dinoprost; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prostaglandins F; Regional Blood Flow; Vasoconstriction

The effects of prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha in 16 patients with vascular malignant intestinal tumors were analyzed by angiography. It was found that PGF2 alpha reduced tumor vascular flow selectively in all but one patient, a rectal carcinoma case. Among the remaining group, a case of intestinal choriocarcinoma complicated by massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage was successfully controlled with intraarterial infusion of PGF2 alpha into the superior mesenteric artery. Owing to the reduced blood flow in tumors, PGF2 alpha is expected to be used extensively as a vasoconstrictor to control bleeding from tumors of the alimentary tract.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Choriocarcinoma; Colonic Neoplasms; Dinoprost; Female; Humans; Intestinal Neoplasms; Intestine, Small; Male; Mesenteric Arteries; Middle Aged; Pregnancy; Prostaglandins F; Radiography; Renal Artery; Uterine Neoplasms