A recent study at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute has shown that non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or
NSAIDs, protect against the development of colorectal cancer. Although this has long been suggested, these scientists have finally discovered why. The NSAIDs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, work by inducing cell suicide pathways in intestinal stem cells that carry a certain mutated and dysfunctional gene.
The team researching this used animal models and examined tumor samples from patients who had and hadn't taken NSAIDs. Their results showed that the NSAIDs do in fact activate a cell-death pathway. Healthy cells lack the mutation, so the NSAIDs cause no harm to them. Their conclusion is that NSAIDs initiate the early destruction of cells that could be precancerous.
The scientists plan to use their discovery to design new drugs that are more effective in cancer prevention for those high at risk of colon cancer. They say ideally they could harness the tumor-killing traits of NSAIDs and avoid the side effects such as ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.
I found this article to be interesting because colon cancer is so prevalent and dangerous. Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the country, and I personally know people who have been affected by it. NSAIDs seem like such a common drug, but clearly their effects are more complex than most people would think. The idea of using them to prevent cancer in this manner seems promising.
Article:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141103161950.htm
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