Calcium chemoprevention in colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
There are genetic, endoengenous, and exogenous factors responsible for colorectal cancer. Calcium may play a chemopreventive role in high risk groups. Binding fatty and biliary acids and their reduced absorbtion, with a consequent decrease of proliferative stimulation and reduction of secondary carcinogenic compounds, may explain this role.


METHODS
175 patients with adenomatous polyps after polypectomy and with calcium chemoprevention were evaluated for polyps recurrence. Another three groups of patients with colorectal cancer without chemoprevention (A,B) and with chemoprevention (group C) were followed concerning survival after surgery.


RESULTS
The cumulative survival rate of patients after surgery due to colorectal carcinoma is significantly higher in a calcium chemopreventive group. Adenomatous polyps recurrences after polypectomy are lower (12.9%) in the chemoprevention group than in the group without prevention (55%) with a mean time of follow-up 3.1 yrs.


CONCLUSIONS
Calcium is an important chemopreventive agent in adenomatous polyps after polypectomy and after colorectal surgery for colorectal cancer.
Duris
I
I
1st Department of Internal Medicine, Comenius University, Braislava, Slovak Republic.
Hruby
D
D
Pekarkova
B
B
Huorka
M
M
Cernakova
E
E
Bezayova
T
T
Ondrejka
P
P
D011125:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D015996:Survival Rate
D002118:Calcium