title: Influence of rofecoxib on experimental colonic carcinogenesis in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of a selective cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, rofecoxib, in the prevalence of experimental colon tumors in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study with 35 male Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into four groups: a) control group without experimental manipulation (n = 5); b) pharmacological carcinogenesis with 1-2 dimethylhydrazine dihydrocloride (n = 10); c) pharmacological carcinogenesis and addition of acetylsalicylic acid (AAS) (n = 10); and d) carcinogenesis and addition of rofecoxib (n = 10). Carcinogenesis was induced with 1-2 dimethylhydrazine at a weekly dose of 25 mg/kg for 18 weeks. Colon tumors were isolated at 20 weeks. Antiinflammatory agents were given at a dose of AAS 30 mg/kg and rofecoxib at 3 mg/kg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of colonic tumors was significantly reduced in the rofecoxib group. This result was found for all tumors and for the malignant lesions, adenocarcinomas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rofecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, reduced the percentage of drug-induced neoplastic glandular tissue in rats.
authors.affiliation: IUNICS, General Surgery Unit and Digestive Diseases, Son Llàtzer Hospital, Balearic Islands, Spain. jnoguera@hsll.es
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Noguera Aguilar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plaza Martínez
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Amengual Antich
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Morón Canis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tortajada Collado
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Pujol Tugores
mesh_terms: D019813:1,2-Dimethylhydrazine / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D007783:Lactones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013450:Sulfones / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D007783:Lactones; D013450:Sulfones; C116926:rofecoxib; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D019813:1,2-Dimethylhydrazine; D001241:Aspirin