Genetic Bowel Cancellation Previously-known drug reduced tumor formation by over 50 percent

Mesalazine: Old drug against bowel disease significantly reduces tumor formation

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in Germany. Every year around 26,000 people die in this country. Health experts say that about two to three percent of bowel cancers are due to Lynch syndrome. An international research team has now found that Lynch syndrome patients who receive the drug mesalazine, significantly fewer tumors develop.

Every eighth cancer affects the intestine

According to the German Cancer Aid Foundation, about every eighth cancer of women and men in Germany affects the intestine. "Under the generic term" colon cancer "cancers of the colon (colon), the rectum (rectum / rectum) and the intestinal outlet (anus) summarized," the experts write on their website. According to medical experts, about two to three percent of all colorectal cancers are due to the Lynch syndrome. Researchers have now found that Lynch Syndrome patients who receive a particular drug that has been on the market for a long time develop significantly fewer tumors.

Up to three percent of all colorectal cancers are due to the Lynch syndrome. Researchers have now discovered that Lynch syndrome patients who receive the drug mesalazine, significantly fewer tumors develop. (Image: psdesign1 / fotolia.com)

The most common genetic tumor disease of the intestine

According to health experts, almost a third of colon cancer cases are based on a familial risk.

In addition to the family bias, however, there are other factors that can increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

Thus, the risk is greater in people who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

In addition, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption and malnutrition, such as a very high fat and meat diet, are among the factors that increase the risk of colon cancer.

However, about two to three percent of all colorectal cancers are due to the Lynch syndrome, the most common genetic tumor disease of the intestine.

Scientists have now discovered that lynch syndrome patients who receive the anti-inflammatory drug mesalazine are less likely to develop tumors, and the number of tumor neoplasms is also significantly reduced.

Involved in the international research team were experts from the Department of Surgery and the Department of Internal Medicine III of the Medical University (MedUni) Vienna.

Confirmation of the results expected

"On average, 94 out of 100 affected tumors develop, with administration of the drug, there are only 69," said Judith Karner-Hanusch, expert in general, vascular and visceral surgery at MedUni Vienna in a statement.

"The number of tumors in turn is reduced from an average of 3.1 to 1.4 per patient." This could be shown in the mouse model. Now the Phase II study is in the pipeline.

However, the results are so promising that one can expect confirmation of the results, said Christoph Gasche, head of the Molecular Carcinoma Laboratory and member of the Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC), a joint institution of MedUni Vienna and AKH Vienna.

"We should be able to prove that patients are largely freed from inherited tumor burden by taking this drug, which has already been approved for many indications."

The study will be conducted in collaboration with scientists from Germany, Poland, Israel, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Risk increased by uterine cancer

Mesalazine is an amine derivative of salicylic acid (5-aminosalicylic acid / 5-ASA), which is used as an anti-inflammatory drug in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis).

In the animal model, it was shown that mesalazine leads to a 50 percent reduction in the number of tumors in genetically inherited Lynch syndrome.

The risk group for Lynch syndrome includes persons whose family has at least one related patient before the age of 50, in whose family the disease is found for at least two consecutive generations and in whose family it has three associated with hereditary colorectal cancers Carcinomas exist (Amsterdam II criteria) - as well as the young age of onset.

In addition, Karner-Hanusch emphasizes, uterine cancer (endometrial carcinoma) can also strongly indicate genetic mutations and Lynch syndrome:

"Women with cancer of the uterus, not to be confused with cervical cancer (note HPV), carry a 40 percent risk of genetic colorectal cancer and should be tested." (Ad)