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(Ivanhoe Newswire) Blocking a protein in mice can keep the inflammatory bowel disease ulcerative colitis (UC) from turning into colon cancer.
UC is characterized by bouts of bloody diarrhea that can last for months and recurs. It often progresses to colon cancer.
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New research from Japan finds the protein TNF-alpha plays a big role in the development of colon cancer in mice.
When researchers gave normal mice azoxymethane (AOM) and dextrin sulfate sodium (DSS) they found an increased expression of TNF-alpha in their colons. This led to the development of tumors in the colon.
The study finds mice lacking one of the receptors for TNF-alpha and those treated with a TNF-alpha blocker were clearly protected from the effects of AOM and DSS treatment. They also had less inflammation and fewer tumors in the colon.
The authors suggest these data show how drugs blocking TNF-alpha - such as those used to treat rheumatoid arthritis patients might be useful in reducing the risk of colon cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis.
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SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2008;118:560-570
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