ABSTRACT
Introduction: Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). Surveillance colonoscopy is currently recommended for patients with long-standing extensive colitis for reducing CRC risk. Chemoprevention is an attractive complementary strategy.
Areas covered: Inflammation is a major determinant of CRC risk and is potentially modifiable. Reducing inflammation is supposed to reduce CRC risk. Several medications have been evaluated in this setting: 5-ASA, thiopurines, anti-TNFα agents and ursodeoxycholic acid (UCDA) in patients with associated primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). This review offers a critical evaluation of current evidence of the potential chemopreventive effect of such medications.
Expert commentary: No randomized controlled trials have been performed and the available evidence come from observational studies. Although biological plausibility supports a chemopreventive role of the aforementioned agents, the overall evidence of efficacy is weak because of several methodological limitations of the studies. Indirect epidemiological evidence, biologic plausibility and results of meta-analyses reasonably support a potential chemopreventive effect of 5-ASA. Available evidence does not support a specific chemopreventive effect of purine analogues and anti-TNFα medications, despite their efficacy in the management of inflammatory bowel disease. Data addressing UDCA and folate supplementation are inconclusive. Limited data are available for statins.
Declaration of interest
P. Claudio received consultancy fees and educational grants from Takeda, Abbvie, HSD, Chiesi and Sofar. S. Festa received consultancy fees from Sofar, Ferrine, Takeda and Alfa-Wassermann. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.