title: Surgical prophylaxis against large bowel tumors in an animal model.
abstract: Subtotal removal of high-risk organs is of uncertain value as cancer prophylaxis. This study examined to what extent partial colectomy prevented carcinogen-induced large bowel tumors. Male Fischer 344 rats (N = 98) were given five weekly subcutaneous injections of azoxymethane 7 mg/kg, then treated as follows: group I (controls), the ileocecal junction was divided and reanastomosed without resection; group II, a proximal 1/3 colon resection was performed; and group III, a proximal 2/3 colon resection was performed. After 7 months the rats were sacrificed and colorectal tumors confirmed histologically. Sixty-nine animals survived for analysis. Tumor incidence and average number of tumors per rat were not significantly changed by resection. Surgical prophylaxis was compromised by a high frequency of multiple tumors and by a higher than expected frequency of tumors in the remaining bowel.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001397:Azoxymethane; D003082:Colectomy; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D001397:Azoxymethane