Nitric oxide-releasing medications and colorectal cancer risk: the framingham study.
BACKGROUND
The major sources of human exposure to nitric oxide (NO) are medicinal nitrovasodilators that release NO into the vasculature. Experimental NO-donating aspirin also releases NO in a similar manner, and is a potent in vitro inhibitor of colon cancer.


METHODS
The effects of nitrovasodilators on the risk of colorectal cancer was studied in the Framingham Heart and Offspring studies among 145 cases of colorectal cancer and 433 matched controls.


RESULTS
Eleven percent of controls reported currently using nitroglycerine or other long-lasting nitrates. In conditional logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio (OR) for colorectal cancer associated with nitrovasodilator use was 1.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.6, 2.2). In subgroup analysis, the OR was 0.7 (95% CI 0.2, 2.2) in aspirin users and 1.6 (95% CI 0.8, 3.2) in subjects not taking aspirin.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that NO does not change the risk of colorectal cancer.
Muscat
Joshua E
JE
Department of Health Evaluation Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
Dyer
Anne-Marie
AM
Rosenbaum
Raphael E
RE
Rigas
Basil
B
D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents