salicylates and Colorectal-Neoplasms

The classical aim of the treatment of ulcerative colitis is to induce and maintain remission. However, this aim has not been shown to prevent long-term complications. Current treatment goals attempt to prevent complications. In some studies, healing of the intestinal mucosa has been shown to improve long-term outcomes. In ulcerative colitis, mucosal healing reduces recurrence, the risk of colorectal cancer and the need for surgery, and improves patients' quality of life. The drugs for which there is greatest evidence of their efficacy in inducing and maintaining mucosal healing are salicylates and biological agents. In the near future, endoscopic monitoring may be required to evaluate response to the treatment and decisions may have to be taken according to the persistence or disappearance of these lesions.

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Biological Therapy; Colectomy; Colitis, Ulcerative; Colorectal Neoplasms; Combined Modality Therapy; Disease Progression; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Intestinal Mucosa; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Prognosis; Quality of Life; Recurrence; Regeneration; Salicylates; Severity of Illness Index

Topics: Adalimumab; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Colitis, Ulcerative; Colorectal Neoplasms; Humans; Probiotics; Remission Induction; Salicylates; Tacrolimus; Thiazolidines

The ideal chemopreventative agent, in addition to being efficacious in the prevention of cancer, must be easily administered, affordable, safe, and well tolerated, with minimal side effects. In the past decade, a growing body of literature has emerged on the prevention of CRC in patients with long-standing CD and UC. The data are not definitive and consist almost exclusively of retrospective case-control and cohort studies rather than the more rigorous prospective RCTs. 5-ASA compounds have been most thoroughly studied, and most of the existing data support the use of 5-ASA in the prevention of CRC. Although the precise dose and duration are unclear, studies suggest that chronic systemic administration of 5-ASA at a dose of at least 1.2 g/d is most likely to be effective. A beneficial effect of folate, albeit not statistically significant, has been consistently shown in every study performed for this purpose. Folate supplementation, which is safe and affordable, should also be recommended for all patients with IBD, especially those taking sulfasalazine. UDCA has been shown to exert a protective effect in most studies on patients with UC and concomitant PSC. Because this patient population is at particularly high risk for CRC, it is advisable to consider UDCA in all patients with colitis complicated by PSC. For patients without PSC, sufficient data do not exist to recommend it for the purpose of cancer prevention. Five of the six corticosteroid studies have found a beneficial effect of systemic steroids, although most did not reach statistical significance. Regardless, given the frequent and serious adverse effects associated with chronic steroid use, systemic corticosteroids should not be prescribed for this indication. Budesonide, an oral corticosteroid with minimal systemic absorption, is a potential alternative, although it has not yet been studied as a chemopreventative agent. Similarly, until the long-term safety of chronic NSAID use can be demonstrated in patients with IBD, the role of NSAIDs in chemoprevention remains undefined. Although the data are conflicting, immune-modulating medications, such as AZA, do not seem to confer any reduction in the risk of dysplasia or CRC. The data on calcium supplementation and statin use are still too limited to endorse their use for the prevention of colitis-related CRC. Chemoprevention is an area that holds great promise in the reduction of morbidity and mortality associated with IBD. Further studies, includin

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Chemoprevention; Colorectal Neoplasms; Epidemiologic Studies; Gastrointestinal Agents; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Risk Reduction Behavior; Salicylates

A variety of studies have supported the finding that regular intake of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents can affect colorectal cancer carcinogenesis. These agents inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins. High levels of prostaglandins are observed in colon cancer tissues.. Experiments were planned to determine the lowest dose of aspirin that can markedly suppress the levels of mucosal prostaglandins E2 and F(2alpha) in colorectal mucosa and to determine whether a relationship exists between these levels and plasma levels of both acetylsalicylic acid and its metabolite, salicylic acid.. Healthy men and women aged 18 years or older participated in the study. The participants took a single, daily dose of aspirin (40.5, 81, 162, 324, or 648 mg) or a placebo for 14 days. Colorectal biopsy specimens were taken at baseline, 24 hours after the first dose of aspirin, and 24-30 hours and 72-78 hours after the last, i.e., fourteenth, daily dose of aspirin. The biopsy specimens were assayed for prostaglandins E2 and F(2alpha) by use of a competitive enzyme immunoassay. Plasma concentrations of acetylsalicylic acid and salicylic acid were determined by use of high-performance liquid chromatography. All P values are two-sided.. A total of 65 subjects (10 receiving placebo, groups of 10 each receiving 40.5, 81, 162, or 324 mg of aspirin, and a group of 15 receiving 648 mg of aspirin) completed the protocol. One subject reported unacceptable drug-induced toxic effects and did not complete the protocol; other subjects reported acceptable side effects. The lowest dose to significantly suppress colorectal mucosal prostaglandin E2 concentrations from baseline at 24 hours after the first dose (by 22.6%; P = .002) and at 24-30 hours after the last dose (by 14.2%; P = .021) was 162 mg. At 72-78 hours after the last dose, there was significant suppression for subjects receiving 81 mg (by 23.7%; P = .008). The lowest dose to significantly suppress colorectal mucosal prostaglandin F(2alpha) concentrations from baseline at 24 hours after the first dose (by 18.3%; P = .032) was 324 mg. The lowest dose causing a marked reduction in the level of prostaglandin F(2alpha) at 24-30 hours (by 15.1%; P = .003) and 72-78 hours (by 23.0%; P = .0002) after the last dose was 40.5 mg. No detectable amounts of acetylsalicylic acid or salicylic acid were present in the plasma at any of the biopsy time points.. The lowest doses of aspirin taken daily for 14 days to significantly suppress concentrations of colorectal mucosal prostaglandins E2 and F(2alpha) were 81 and 40.5 mg, respectively. The suppression occurred without detectable amounts of aspirin or salicylic acid in the plasma at the time points studied. On the basis of these observations, we recommend a single, daily dose of 81 mg of aspirin in future studies of this drug as a chemopreventive agent for colorectal cancer.

Topics: Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Aspirin; Colon; Colorectal Neoplasms; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Male; Middle Aged; Prostaglandins; Rectum; Salicylates; Salicylic Acid; Time Factors

Intake of acetylsalicylic acid reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and is associated with a decreased risk for colorectal cancer. Amounts of salicylates in foods are thus of interest, but data are scarce and controversial. We gave 58 mumol (10.5 mg) pure acetylsalicylic acid or 66 mumol (9.1 mg) salicylic acid to six volunteers and recovered 77-80% in 24-h urine samples. Thus, urinary excretion is a valid indicator for intake of free forms of (acetyl)salicylic acid. To estimate the bioavailable salicylate contents of diets, we subsequently studied salicylate excretion in 17 volunteers from 14 countries and four continents who ate a wide variety of self-selected diets. Median 24-h urinary salicylate excretion was 10 mumol (range: 6-12 mumol). Values increased with the fiber content of the diet (r = 0.73), suggesting that vegetable foods are the main sources of salicylates. However, amounts of salicylates in a variety of diets are evidently low and probably insufficient to affect disease risk.

Topics: Adult; Biological Availability; Cardiovascular Diseases; Colorectal Neoplasms; Diet; Female; Humans; Netherlands; Risk Factors; Salicylates; Salicylic Acid; Vegetables

Oxaliplatin (Oxa) is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic drugs used in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the use of this drug is associated with severe side‑effects and patients eventually develop resistance to Oxa. In recent years, copper complexes have been extensively investigated as substitutes for platinum‑based drugs. Therefore, a number of copper complexes have also been developed for cancer therapy, such as copper (II) complex of salicylate phenanthroline [Cu(sal)(phen)]. In the present study, the antitumor activity and the related molecular mechanisms of Cu(sal)(phen) were examined in CRC cells. As compared with the chemotherapeutic drug, Oxa, Cu(sal)(phen) was more effective in inducing apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and in decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential in the CRC cell lines, HCT116 and SW480. In addition, the expression of the apoptosis‑related proteins, Bcl‑2 and survivin, and those of the upstream regulators, p‑JAK2 and p‑STAT5, were significantly decreased in the two cell lines following treatment with Cu(sal)(phen). Furthermore, the efficacy of the complex against CRC was found to be excellent in an animal model. The results of immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the expression levels of Bcl‑2, survivin and Ki‑67 in tumor tissues were decreased following Cu(sal)(phen) treatment. The antitumor mechanisms underlying Cu(Sal)(phen) treatment were the induction of ROS generation, the inhibition of the JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathway and the downregulation of the expression of anti‑apoptotic proteins, such as Bcl‑2 and survivin. On the whole, the findings of the present study indicated that Cu(sal)(phen) effectively inhibited the viability and proliferation of HCT116 and SW480 CRC cells; in the future, the authors aim to conduct further experiments in future studies to provide more evidence that supports the development of Cu(sal)(phen) as a therapeutic agent for CRC.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; Cell Line, Tumor; Colorectal Neoplasms; Copper; Oxaliplatin; Phenanthrolines; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Reactive Oxygen Species; Salicylates; STAT5 Transcription Factor; Survivin

Aspirin and its active metabolite salicylate have emerged as promising agents for the chemoprevention of colorectal cancer (CRC). Moreover, aspirin suppresses the progression of established CRCs. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not completely understood. Here we found that salicylate induces the expression of the miR-34a and miR-34b/c genes, which encode tumor suppressive microRNAs, in a p53-independent manner. Salicylate activated AMPK, thereby activating NRF2, which directly induced miR-34a/b/c expression via ARE motifs. In addition, salicylate suppressed c-MYC, a known repressor of NRF2-mediated transactivation, via activating AMPK. The suppression of c-MYC by salicylate was necessary for NRF2-mediated activation of miR-34a/b/c. Inactivation of miR-34a/b/c largely abrogated the inhibitory effects of salicylate on migration, invasion and metastasis formation by CRC cells. In the future, aspirin and its derivates may be used therapeutically to activate miR-34a and miR-34b/c in tumors that have lost p53.

Topics: AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; Aspirin; Cell Line, Tumor; Colorectal Neoplasms; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; MicroRNAs; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Salicylates; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

The antiplatelet effect of low-dose aspirin, via inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1, might contribute to its ability to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Antiplatelet agents with a different mechanism, such as clopidogrel, might have the same effects. We aimed to quantify the effects of low-dose aspirin and clopidogrel on the risk of CRC in a Mediterranean population.. We performed a nested case-control study using a primary care database (Base de datos para la Investigación Farmacoepidemiológica en Atención Primaria) in Spain. We collected data, from 2001 through 2014, on 15,491 incident cases of CRC and 60,000 randomly selected individuals (controls), frequency-matched to cases by age, sex, and year. To estimate the association between exposure to different antiplatelet agents and the risk of colorectal cancer, we built multiple logistic regression models and computed the adjusted-odds ratios (AORs) and their respective 95% CIs.. Use of low-dose aspirin was associated with a reduced risk of CRC overall (AOR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.78-0.89) and in patients receiving treatment for more than 1 year (AOR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.73-0.85). Use of clopidogrel was associated with a decreased risk of CRC overall (AOR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.69-0.93) and in patients receiving treatment for more than 1 year (AOR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.55-0.78). Dual antiplatelet therapy had the same effect as either drug taken as monotherapy. No modification by sex or age was observed.. In a nested case-control study of a primary care database in Spain, we found clopidogrel use, alone or in combination with low-dose aspirin, to reduce the risk of CRC by 20% to 30%, a magnitude similar to that of low-dose aspirin alone. These data support the concept that inhibiting platelets is an effective strategy for prevention of CRC.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aspirin; Case-Control Studies; Clopidogrel; Colorectal Neoplasms; Dual Anti-Platelet Therapy; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Protective Factors; Risk Reduction Behavior; Salicylates; Spain

High-fat diets (HFDs) and adiposity increase colorectal cancer risk, in part by elevating pro-inflammatory cytokines that activate pro-cancerous signaling pathways. Curcumin (CUR), a dietary polyphenol and salsalate (SAL), an non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) lacking the gastrotoxicity of aspirin, each suppress inflammatory signaling, but via different cellular pathways.. A/J mice (n = 110) are fed a low-fat diet (LFD, 10% kcal), a HFD (60% kcal), a HFD containing 0.4% CUR, a HFD containing 0.3% SAL, or a HFD containing both agents (CUR/SAL). All mice receive six injections of azoxymethane. Compared to LFD-fed mice, HFD-fed mice display elevated colonic cytokines, crypt cell proliferation, and increased tumorigenesis (p < 0.05). CUR/SAL significantly reduces colonic cytokines (p < 0.01), suppresses activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/NF-κB/Wnt pathways (p < 0.01), activates AMPK (p < 0.01), attenuates abnormal proliferation of the colonic mucosa (p < 0.05), and reduces tumor multiplicity and burden (p < 0.05), in comparison to the HFD control. In contrast, CUR or SAL alone does not suppress abnormal crypt cell proliferation or tumor multiplicity, and is largely ineffective in modifying activation of these signaling pathways.. These observations demonstrate the superiority of the CUR/SAL over the individual agents and provide a scientific basis for future translational studies in obese subjects and/or those habitually consuming HFDs.

Topics: Adiposity; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Anticarcinogenic Agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Apoptosis; Cell Proliferation; Colitis; Colorectal Neoplasms; Curcumin; Diet, High-Fat; Intestinal Mucosa; Male; Mice, Inbred Strains; Obesity; Precancerous Conditions; Salicylates; Signal Transduction

Epidemiological studies indicate that long‑term aspirin usage reduces the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) and may protect against other non‑CRC associated adenocarcinomas, including oesophageal cancer. A number of hypotheses have been proposed with respect to the molecular action of aspirin and other non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs in cancer development. The mechanism by which aspirin exhibits toxicity to CRC has been previously investigated by synthesising novel analogues and derivatives of aspirin in an effort to identify functionally significant moieties. Herein, an early effect of aspirin and aspirin‑like analogues against the SW480 CRC cell line was investigated, with a particular focus on critical molecules in the epidermal growth factor (EGF) pathway. The present authors proposed that aspirin, diaspirin and analogues, and diflunisal (a salicylic acid derivative) may rapidly perturb EGF and EGF receptor (EGFR) internalisation. Upon longer incubations, the diaspirins and thioaspirins may inhibit EGFR phosphorylation at Tyr1045 and Tyr1173. It was additionally demonstrated, using a qualitative approach, that EGF internalisation in the SW480 cell line may be directed to endosomes by fumaryldiaspirin using early endosome antigen 1 as an early endosomal marker and that EGF internalisation may also be perturbed in oesophageal cell lines, suggestive of an effect not only restricted to CRC cells. Taken together and in light of our previous findings that the aspirin‑like analogues can affect cyclin D1 expression and nuclear factor‑κB localisation, it was hypothesized that aspirin and aspirin analogues significantly and swiftly perturb the EGFR axis and that the protective activity of aspirin may in part be explained by perturbed EGFR internalisation and activation. These findings may also have implications in understanding the inhibitory effect of aspirin and salicylates on wound healing, given the critical role of EGF in the response to tissue trauma.

Topics: Aspirin; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Colorectal Neoplasms; Cyclin D1; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; EGF Family of Proteins; ErbB Receptors; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; NF-kappa B; Phosphorylation; Salicylates; Signal Transduction

MUC1 is a transmembrane mucin that can promote cancer progression, and its upregulation correlates with a worse prognosis in colon cancer. We examined the effects of overexpression of MUC1 in colon cancer cells, finding that it induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), including enhanced migration and invasion, and increased Akt phosphorylation. When the clones were treated with the aspirin metabolite salicylate, Akt phosphorylation was decreased and EMT inhibited. As the salicylate motif is necessary for the activity of the lysine acetyltransferase (KAT) inhibitor anacardic acid, we hypothesized these effects were associated with the inhibition of KAT activity. This was supported by anacardic acid treatment producing the same effect on EMT. In vitro KAT assays confirmed that salicylate directly inhibited PCAF/Kat2b, Tip60/Kat5 and hMOF/Kat8, and this inhibition was likely involved in the reversal of EMT in the metastatic prostate cancer cell line PC-3. Salicylate treatment also inhibited EMT induced by cytokines, illustrating the general effect it had on this process. The inhibition of both EMT and KATs by salicylate presents a little explored activity that could explain some of the anti-cancer effects of aspirin.

Topics: Anacardic Acids; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Colorectal Neoplasms; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; HT29 Cells; Humans; Lysine Acetyltransferases; Male; Mucin-1; Neoplasms; Phosphorylation; Prostatic Neoplasms; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Salicylates

High-fat diets (HFDs) and excess adiposity increase proinflammatory cytokines in the colon, altering gene expression in a manner that promotes the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Thus, compounds that reduce this biochemical inflammation are potential chemopreventive agents. Curcumin (CUR), a dietary polyphenol, and salsalate (SAL), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, are both anti-inflammatories. We investigated the inhibitory effects of CUR with or without SAL on inflammatory cytokines and procarcinogenic signaling in azoxymethane (AOM)-treated A/J mice. A sub-tumorigenic AOM dose was chosen to produce a biochemical and molecular procarcinogenic colonic environment without tumors. Mice were fed either a HFD (60% of kilocalories) or low-fat diet (LFD) (10% of kilocalories). One HFD treatment group received 0.2% CUR in the diet; one received 0.2% CUR + 0.15% SAL; and one received 0.4% CUR + 0.3% SAL. The HFD mice developed 30% greater fat mass than the LFD mice (p < 0.05). The colonic concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the HFD mice were decreased by 50-69% by the high-dose combination regimen (p < 0.015). Only the combination regimens significantly suppressed phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 (p < 0.044). The combination of CUR and SAL reduces the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines and diminishes activation of Akt and NF-κB more effectively than CUR alone, providing a scientific basis for examining whether this combination mitigates the risk of CRC in obese individuals.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Azoxymethane; Colorectal Neoplasms; Curcumin; Diet, High-Fat; Humans; Interleukin-6; Male; Mice; NF-kappa B; Salicylates

Topics: Autophagy; Autophagy-Related Protein 7; Beclin-1; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Colorectal Neoplasms; Enzyme Inhibitors; Farnesol; Flavanones; G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Gene Knockdown Techniques; HCT116 Cells; HT29 Cells; Humans; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Molecular Docking Simulation; Necrosis; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Protein Methyltransferases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; ras Proteins; Salicylates; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

Activation of Wnt signalling due to inability to degrade β-catenin is found in >85% of colorectal cancers. Approximately half of colon cancers express a constitutively active KRAS protein. A significant fraction of patients show both abnormalities. We previously reported that simultaneous down-regulation of both β-catenin and KRAS was necessary to induce significant cell death and tumor growth inhibition of colorectal cancer cells. Although attractive, an RNAi-based therapeutic approach is still far from being employed in the clinical setting. Therefore, we sought to recapitulate our previous findings by the use of small-molecule inhibitors of β-catenin and KRAS. We show here that the β-catenin inhibitors PKF115-584 and pyrvinium pamoate block β-catenin-dependent transcriptional activity and synergize with the KRAS inhibitor S-trans, trans-farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS, salirasib) in colon cancer cells driven by Wnt and KRAS oncogenic signals, but not in cells carrying BRAF mutations. The combined use of these compounds was superior to the use of any drug alone in inducing cell growth arrest, cell death, MYC and survivin down-modulation, and inhibition of anchorage-independent growth. Expression analysis of selected cancer-relevant genes revealed down-regulation of CD44 as a common response to the combined treatments. These data provide a proof of principle for a combination therapeutic strategy in colorectal cancer.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Cell Line, Tumor; Colorectal Neoplasms; Drug Synergism; Farnesol; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Mice; Perylene; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); Pyrvinium Compounds; ras Proteins; Salicylates; Wnt Proteins

Naproxen, sulindac and salicylate, three NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), were cytotoxic to human colorectal cancer cells in culture. Toxicity was accompanied by significant depletion of intracellular polyamine content. Inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase (the first enzyme of the polyamine biosynthetic pathway), induction of polyamine oxidase and spermidine/spermine N(1)-acetyltransferase (the enzymes responsible for polyamine catabolism) and induction of polyamine export all contributed to the decreased intracellular polyamine content. Morphological examination of the cells showed typical signs of apoptosis, and this was confirmed by DNA fragmentation and measurement of caspase-3-like activity. Re-addition of spermidine to the cells partially prevented apoptosis and recovered the cell number. Thus polyamines appear to be an integral part of the signalling pathway mediating NSAID toxicity in human colorectal cancer cells, and may therefore also be important in cancer chemoprevention in humans.

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Apoptosis; Cell Division; Cell Membrane; Cell Survival; Colorectal Neoplasms; DNA Fragmentation; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fluorescent Dyes; Humans; Indoles; Intercalating Agents; Naproxen; Polyamines; Putrescine; Salicylates; Spermidine; Spermine; Sulindac; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Recent epidemiological evidence has shown that chronic use of aspirin decreases susceptibility to bowel cancer. Animal studies have shown that sulphotransferase inhibitors coadministered with sulphation activated carcinogens dramatically reduce the incidence of cancer.. To investigate the effect of the main aspirin breakdown product, salicylic acid, on the P and M isoforms of phenolsulphotransferase from human platelets and colonic mucosa.. Platelets were obtained from healthy blood donors and isolated within 24 hours after donation. Samples of colonic mucosa were obtained at resection for non-malignant disease. Phenolsulphotransferase activity was measured in cellular homogenates using a standard radiolabelling assay.. Salicylic acid consistently and selectively inhibited the P form of phenolsulphotransferase at subtherapeutic concentrations in both tissue samples. A 50% inhibition of sulphation by the P phenolsulphotransferase occurred at salicylic acid concentrations of about 40 and 130 microM in platelets and bowel mucosa respectively. M phenolsulphotransferase was virtually unaffected by salicylic acid up to a concentration of 1.5 mM (the therapeutic plasma concentration for salicylates when treating rheumatoid arthritis is about 1-2 mM).. The action of salicylic acid on P phenolsulphotransferase, by preventing the excessive activation of carcinogens, is a possible additional pathway by which aspirin can reduce cancer risk.

Topics: Aged; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Blood Platelets; Colon; Colorectal Neoplasms; Female; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Intestinal Mucosa; Isomerism; Male; Middle Aged; Salicylates

The hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase enzyme system is known to produce the superoxide ion and hydrogen peroxide during the hydroxylation of hypoxanthine via xanthine to uric acid. When chelated iron is included in this system, superoxide reduces iron (III) to iron(II) and the iron(II)-chelate further reacts with hydrogen peroxide to form the highly reactive hydroxyl radical. Because of the limitations of colourimetric and spectrophotometric techniques by which, to date, the mechanisms of hydroxyl radical formation in the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase system have been monitored, a high performance liquid chromatography method utilizing the ion-pair reagent tetrabutylammonium hydroxide and salicylic acid as an aromatic probe for quantification of hydroxyl radical formation was set up. In the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase system the major products of hydroxyl radical attack on salicylic acid were 2,5-dihydroxy benzoic acid and 2,3-dihydroxy benzoic acid in the approximate ratio of 5:1. That the hydroxyl radical is involved in the hydroxylation of salicylic acid in this system was demonstrated by the potency especially of dimethyl sulphoxide, butanol and ethanol as scavengers. Phytic acid, which is considered to be an important protective dietary constituent against colorectal cancer, inhibited hydroxylation of salicylic acid at a concentration one order of magnitude lower than the classical scavengers, but was only effective in the absence of EDTA. The method has been applied to the study of free radical generation in faeces, and preliminary results indicate that the faecal flora are able to produce reactive oxygen species in abundance.

Topics: Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Colorectal Neoplasms; Humans; Hydroxybenzoates; Hydroxyl Radical; Hydroxylation; Hypoxanthine; Iron; Oxidation-Reduction; Reactive Oxygen Species; Salicylates; Salicylic Acid; Xanthine Oxidase