title: Effect of subacute ibuprofen dosing on rectal mucosal prostaglandin E2 levels in healthy subjects with a history of resected polyps.
abstract: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs are among the most promising chemopreventive agents for colorectal cancer. Although the mechanism by which nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs exert such effects remains to be further characterized, their best known pharmacological effect is inhibition of prostaglandin synthetase, which leads to decreases in tissue prostaglandin levels. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, controlled study to examine the effect of daily ibuprofen treatment on the rectal mucosal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in healthy subjects with a history of resected polyps. Study participants (n = 27) completed a 2-week run-in period and were then randomized to take a single, daily dose of ibuprofen (300 or 600 mg) or of a placebo for 4 weeks. Rectal biopsy specimens were taken before and after the run-in period and at 2 and 4 weeks after the ibuprofen/placebo treatment. Notably large between- and within-subject variability in the rectal mucosal PGE2 content was seen. The changes in PGE2 levels after ibuprofen/placebo treatment correlated with the baseline PGE2 content. After adjustment of the baseline values, 2 weeks of 300 mg/day of ibuprofen treatment resulted in significantly more suppression of PGE2 levels than that observed after the placebo treatment (55% versus 22% suppression from baseline; P = 0.033). Although other ibuprofen treatment schedules and doses appeared to result in suppression in the PGE2 levels, the suppression was not statistically significant because of the large variability in this measurement. Because lower doses are associated with fewer adverse effects, a dose of 300 mg of ibuprofen/day should be considered for future Phase II chemoprevention studies. Stratifying study participants, based on their baseline PGE2 levels and inclusion of a larger number of study subjects, are recommended for future trials where the rectal mucosal PGE2 level is to be used as a surrogate end point biomarker.
authors.affiliation: Arizona Cancer Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson 85724, USA.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Earnest
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mason-Liddil
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Einspahr
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guillen-Rodriguez
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Roe
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Crowell
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Alberts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D018890:Chemoprevention; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000032:analysis*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D007417:Intestinal Polyps / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D012007:Rectum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015415:Biomarkers; D015232:Dinoprostone; D007052:Ibuprofen