Is the National Cancer Institute (NCI) supporting research testing whether statins might prevent colorectal cancer?
NCI’s Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Consortia is developing a trial for people at increased risk for colorectal cancer who also have been found to have aberrant crypt foci (ACF). ACF are clusters of abnormal cells in the lining of the colon and rectum that have been associated with the development of colorectal tumors. Using existing technology, ACF represent the earliest stage of detectable risk for colorectal cancer. This NCI-sponsored phase II trial will begin patient enrollment in late 2005 or early 2006. The study will assess the efficacy of atorvastatin (and two other investigational agents, an anti-inflammatory, sulindac, and another compound that promotes the growth of healthy bacteria in the colon) against ACF. Paul Limburg, M.D., a researcher in gastroenterology at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.), will be leading this multicenter effort. 6. What evidence is there that statins may have an effect on colorectal cancer? Studies have shown that statins inhibit the growth of
