Colorectal Cancer: Medications to Reduce Risk

Medications to Lower Colorectal Cancer Risk

Doctors sometimes use the term chemoprevention to describe the use of medications to lower the risk for cancer. Several different drugs and dietary supplements have been studied to learn if they can lower the risk for colorectal cancer. Only a few have shown enough benefit to be useful.

Medications and supplements can have side effects. It is important for people to discuss the benefits and risks of chemoprevention with their doctor. People who choose to take medication to lower risk still need to undergo colorectal cancer screening. 

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Much of the research on medications to lower colorectal cancer risk have focused on pain medications known as NSAIDS. These drugs have been studied in both average-risk and high-risk people. 

Aspirin to lower colorectal cancer risk

• In people at average risk for colorectal cancer, long term use of aspirin can reduce the risk of colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer. 
• For people at high risk for colorectal cancer, multiple studies have shown a benefit of aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).
  • In people with Lynch syndrome, daily aspirin may decrease the risk for colon cancer and other cancers. In one study, people who took 600 mg of aspirin daily for two years or more had a 60 percent decrease in their risk for colorectal cancer.
  • More studies are needed to help experts understand the best dose and duration of aspirin to protect people with Lynch syndrome from colorectal cancer. 

Other anti-inflammatory drugs

• In people with the rare syndrome Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), caused by an  inherited mutation in the APC gene, the drugs Sulindac and celexicob have been shown to lower the risk for polyps.

Research on other drugs to lower the colorectal cancer risk

• Vaccines are being studied in clinical trials to see if they can lower the risk for colorectal cancer in people with Lynch syndrome. 
• A new drug, REC-4881 is being studied in a clinical trial to learn how well it can lower the risk for cancer in people with FAP. 
• Other medications and dietary supplements have been studied through clinical trials, some of which may be enrolling high-risk people.
• Currently, there is not enough evidence to support using of any of these other agents to lower the risk for colorectal cancer.

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