Significance of spontaneous apoptosis during colorectal tumorigenesis

To determine if apoptosis is involved in colorectal tumorigenesis and its progression, colorectal adenomas (n = 63), carcinomas (n = 49), and normal mucosa were investigated by using in situ end-labeling (TUNEL) method. The expression of Ki-67 was also analyzed immunohistochemically. TUNEL labeling index (TLI) and Ki-67 labeling index (KLI) were determined. TLI/KLI was significantly higher in the adenomas of small size and/or of low and middle grade atypia than those of large size and/or of high grade atypia. No difference was observed in the indices between adenomas and carcinomas and among the cancer groups classified on the basis of their clinicopathological features. The results indicate that the reduction of susceptibility to apoptosis plays an important role in the early stage of the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Apoptosis can explain the enormous cell loss thought to exist in normal colorectal mucosa and in the tumor growth process. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

结肠炎相关结直肠癌认识的进展

目的:总结国外结肠炎相关结直肠癌(CaCRO)有关流行病学、危险因素、发病机制以及预防措施的研究.方法:应用PubMed以及vip期刊全文数据库检索系统,以"结肠炎相关结直肠癌"为关键词,检索1990-2008年相关研究文献,共检索到英丈文献679篇.纳入标准:1) CaCRC的流行病学研究;2) CaCRC的危险因素研究;3)CaCRC的发病机制研究;4) CaCRC的预防措施研究.根据纳入标准选取45篇丈献.结果:CaCRC是炎性肠病的一种主要并发症,其发病机制与散发性结直肠癌有着一定的差异,通过合理的监管以及治疗措施可以有效地控制其发病率.结论:我国需要进一步做好炎性肠病患者的治疗、监控管理工作,降低CaCRC的发生率.     

Chemoprevention of intestinal tumorigenesis by nabumetone: induction of apoptosis and Bcl-2 downregulation

Treatment of MIN mice with the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, nabumetone, resulted in a dose-dependent suppression of intestinal tumorigenesis. In both the uninvolved MIN mouse colonic epithelium and HT-29 colon cancer cells, nabumetone downregulated the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, with concomitant induction of apoptosis, suggesting a potential mechanism for colon cancer chemoprevention.     

Effects of lentinan on colorectal carcinogenesis in mice with ulcerative colitis

Lentinan; i.e., polysaccharides extracted from a kind of black mushroom shiitake, has been clinically applied as an antitumor and antimetastatic drug, and has been reported to prevent both chemical and viral carcinogenesis. It is known that lentinan affects the tumorous vascular system resulting in the induction of hemorrhagic necrosis which is dependent on T-cells in the tumor. Repeated mucosal necrosis-regeneration sequence in chronic ulcerative colitis induced with 3% dextran sulfate sodium led to colorectal carcinogenesis in azoxymethane-pretreated mice. In the present study, the additive treatment with lentinan in the azoxymethane-dextran sulfate sodium treated mice enhanced the colorectal high-grade dysplasia, though not significantly, and the splenic weight. This may show the proliferation of pathogenic splenic T cells resulting in a change for the worse of ulcerative colitis, anemia induced with hemorrhage and colorectal carcinogenesis; i.e., high-grade dysplasia of the mucosa and/or invasive adenocarcinomas of the colorectum. The present results may recommend chemoimmunotherapy while using lentinan, but not immunotherapy using lentinan alone, is indicated for the management of cancer patients.     

Inhibition of chronic ulcerative colitis associated adenocarcinoma development in mice by inositol compounds

Chronic inflammation is a well recognized risk factor for cancer and patients with long-standing ulcerative colitis (UC) are at an increased risk for colorectal carcinoma development. In order to prevent UC associated carcinogenesis, we tested the effects of inositol compounds (including inositol and hexaphosphate inositol) on UC-associated carcinogenesis in our novel mouse model. Female C57BL/6 mice were subjected to long-term, cyclic dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) treatment and fed a 2-fold iron-enriched diet. The inositol compounds were administered via the drinking fluid. In the DSS-plus-2-fold iron positive control group, colorectal adenocarcinoma incidence was 70.6% (24/34 mice) after 15 cycles of DSS treatment (1 DSS cycle=7 day DSS treatment period followed by a 10 day recovery period). Tumor multiplicity was 1.26+/-1.05 and tumor volume was 21.4+/-5.2 mm3. Adding 1% inositol, tumor incidence was statistically significantly reduced (42%, 9 of 21 mice with tumors), as was tumor multiplicity (0.5+/-0.7) and tumor volume (4.2+/-1.9 mm3). Administration of hexaphosphate inositol noticeably reduced tumor incidence (50%, 12 mice with tumors out of 24 total), tumor multiplicity (0.8+/-0.9) and tumor volume (12.3+/-4.1 mm3); however, the results were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Further mechanistic studies showed that the inhibition of UC-associated carcinogenesis by inositol compounds might relate to their function on the modulation of macrophage mediated inflammation, nitro-oxidative stress and cell proliferation in UC-associated carcinogenesis. This study indicates that inositol compounds may have the potential to serve as preventive agents for chronic inflammation-carcinogenesis.     

Insig2 is associated with colon tumorigenesis and inhibits Bax-mediated apoptosis

Insulin-induced gene 2 (Insig2) was recently identified as a putative positive prognostic biomarker for colon cancer prognosis. Insig2 has been previously reported to be an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane protein, and a negative regulator of cholesterol synthesis. Here we report that Insig2 was validated as a gene with univariate negative prognostic capacity to discriminate human colon cancer survivorship. To investigate the functional roles it plays in tumor development and malignancy, Insig2 was over-expressed in colon cancer cells resulting in increased cellular proliferation, invasion, anchorage independent growth and inhibition of apoptosis. Over-expression of Insig2 appeared to suppress chemotherapeutic drug treatment-induced Bcl2 associated X protein (Bax) expression and activation. Insig2 was also found to localize to the mitochondria/heavy membrane fraction and associate with conformationally changed Bax. Moreover, Insig2 altered the expression of several additional apoptosis genes located in mitochondria, further supporting its new functional role in regulating mitochondrial mediated apoptosis. Our findings show that Insig2 is a novel colon cancer biomarker, and suggest, for the first time, a reasonable connection between Insig2 and Bax-mediated apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway.     

Chemoprevention with special reference to inherited colorectal cancer

Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) is a model for the adenoma-carcinoma sequence in several respects. One important area in which FAP serves as a model is chemoprevention. Early prevention trials mainly utilized micronutrients and were largely unsuccessful in preventing or causing regression of adenomas. A new era was ushered in by the recognition that antiarthritic doses of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent (NSAID), sulindac, could actually induce regression of colorectal adenomas in patients with FAP. Follow-up studies showed positive but variable long-term efficacy for colorectal adenomas, but sulindac appears to lack significant benefit in regressing duodenal adenomas or preventing initial occurrence of adenomas in APC mutation carriers. Due to the well-known side effects of traditional NSAIDs, selective COX-2 inhibitors have been studied rather extensively. Celecoxib has shown benefit in regressing colorectal adenomas and appears to have some duodenal activity as well. Rofecoxib, in smaller trials, showed efficacy as well. However, the entire field of NSAID research in chemoprevention is undergoing reexamination in light of recent demonstration of cardiovascular toxicity in nonfamilial or sporadic adenoma prevention trials. Whether NSAIDs will have a significant future in FAP chemoprevention will depend on a sober assessment of risks and benefits. These same issues will likely foster a more intensive search for new agents. FAP will undoubtedly continue to have a lead role in the testing of new agents, both in the interest of FAP management as such, and in anticipation of trials in nonfamilial adenomas, a problem with even greater societal impact. The historical development of chemoprevention in FAP will be presented, with an emphasis on issues of trial design.     

Chronic inflammation confers to the metabolic reprogramming associated with tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer

It's well known that microenvironment inflammatory signals could promote cancer development and progression. In colorectal cancer (CRC), chronic inflammation is a major driving mechanism for the development of CRC in patients having long-standing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Though it has been addressed that cancer cells ferment much of their glucose supply into lactate regardless of the presence of oxygen, it is unclear whether cell metabolism has been reprogramed during the process from IBD to CRC. Herein, with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse colitis model, we found that inflammation upregulated key glycolytic enzymes expression via activation of STAT3/c-Myc signaling pathway. Interestingly, during the whole phase of chronic inflammation, the key metabolic enzymes demonstrated increased expression constantly, indicating the metabolic reprogramming was induced by long-term inflammatory signal. Moreover, either the inhibition of STAT3 signaling or c-Myc activity could block the glycolytic enzymes expression induced by interleukin 6 (IL-6). Thus, we presented the view that inflammation could induce the metabolic reprogramming and promote the progression from chronic colitis to colorectal cancer.     

BRAF mutation associated with dysregulation of apoptosis in human colorectal neoplasms

To understand the role of BRAF dysfunction in the carcinogenesis and progression/development of colorectal tumors, the authors investigated genetic alterations in the BRAF gene in human colorectal neoplasms as well as the effects of an RAS inhibitor in BRAF-mutant cells. Seven colon cancer cell lines and 116 colorectal tumors (34 adenomas and 82 adenocarcinomas) were analyzed. Genetic alterations in the BRAF and K-ras genes were examined using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism and direct sequencing analyses. The growth-inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effects of the FTI-277 RAS inhibitor in colon cancer cell lines were analyzed as well. An immunohistochemical study was also performed to investigate the correlations between the clinicopathologic parameters involved in the Ki-67 labeling index and the number of apoptotic bodies in tumor cells. FTI-277 did not suppress the proliferation of BRAF-mutant cells (WiDr and TCO), but remarkably inhibited the growth of K-ras mutant cells (LoVo). Interestingly, LoVo cells underwent apoptosis by FTI-277 in a dose-dependent manner, whereas WiDr cells were resistant to this agent. In tumor samples, BRAF mutations were found in 1 (3.0%) of 33 adenomas and 6 (7.2%) of 83 adenocarcinomas. No tumor exhibited mutations in both the BRAF and K-ras genes. Neither BRAF nor K-ras mutations correlated with the Ki-67 labeling index immunohistochemically. However, the number of apoptotic bodies was significantly decreased in the BRAF-mutant tumors. Mutation in the BRAF gene may contribute to colorectal carcinogenesis by upregulating the antiapoptotic role of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway.     

Expression of survivin correlates with apoptosis, proliferation, and angiogenesis during human colorectal tumorigenesis

BACKGROUND: To identify the role of survivin, a novel inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) in colorectal tumorigenesis, the authors investigated tissue expression of survivin in human colorectal tumors including 43 hyperplastic polyps, 171 adenomas with low dysplasia, 42 adenomas with high dysplasia, and 60 carcinomas in adenoma, and examined whether the expression of survivin correlated with tumor cell apoptosis, proliferation, and angiogenesis, which is known to initiate the imbalance between cell proliferation and apoptosis. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining for the paraffin sections by using the monoclonal antibodies, survivin, p53, bcl-2, Ki-67, and CD34, was performed by the standard avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique. The apoptotic cells were detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling method, using an Apop Tag in situ detection kit. RESULTS: The immunoreactivity of survivin significantly increased in the transition from adenoma with low dysplasia to high dysplasia/carcinoma (P < 0.001). Similar changes in protein expression were observed for p53 but not for bcl-2, which was expressed throughout the colorectal tumorigenesis. This transition was associated with a significant decrease in the apoptotic index (AI) and significant increases in the Ki-67 labeling index (LI) and microvessel density (MVD; P < 0.001 for both). The expression of survivin inversely correlated with AI and was positively correlated with Ki-67 LI and MVD (P < 0.001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that, like p53, survivin plays an important role in transition from adenoma with low dysplasia to high dysplasia during human colorectal tumorigenesis.     

A quantitative PCR method to detect blood microRNAs associated with tumorigenesis in transgenic mice

Background

Aberrant accumulation of β-catenin plays an important role in a variety of human neoplasms. We recently reported accumulation of β-catenin in parathyroid adenomas from patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). In CTNNB1 exon 3, we detected a stabilizing mutation (S37A) in 3 out of 20 analyzed adenomas. The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency and zygosity of mutations in CTNNB1 exon 3, and β-catenin accumulation in a large series of parathyroid adenomas of Swedish patients.

Results

The mutation S37A (TCT > GCT) was detected by direct DNA sequencing of PCR fragments in 6 out of 104 sporadic parathyroid adenomas (5.8%). Taking our previous study into account, a total of 9 out of 124 (7.3%) adenomas displayed the same mutation. The mutations were homozygous by DNA sequencing, restriction enzyme cleavage, and gene copy number determination using the GeneChip 500 K Mapping Array Set. All tumors analyzed by immunohistochemistry, including those with mutation, displayed aberrant β-catenin accumulation. Western blotting revealed a slightly higher expression level of β-catenin and nonphosphorylated active β-catenin in tumors with mutation compared to those without. Presence of the mutation was not related to distinct clinical characteristics.

Conclusion

Aberrant accumulation of β-catenin is very common in parathyroid tumors, and is caused by stabilizing homozygous mutation in 7.3% of Swedish pHPT patients.     

Chemoprevention of colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease

Introduction: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease are at an increased risk of colorectal cancer when compared to the general population. Chronic inflammation is thought to be the underlying cause, and medications that reduce inflammation have the potential to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

Areas covered: After conducting a PubMed search for relevant literature, we examined several classes of medications that have been studied as potential chemopreventive agents. These include 5-aminosalicylates, thiopurines, tumor necrosis factor antagonists, ursodeoxycholic acid, NSAIDs, and statins.

Expert commentary: While each class of medications has some data to support its use in chemoprevention, the majority of the evidence in each case argues against the routine use of these medications solely for a chemopreventive benefit.     

BRAF mutations are associated with increased iron regulatory protein‐2 expression in colorectal tumorigenesis

A role for iron in carcinogenesis is supported by evidence that iron metabolism proteins are modulated in cancer progression. To date, however, the expression of iron regulatory protein‐2 (IRP2), which is known to regulate several iron metabolism proteins, has not been assessed in colorectal cancer. Expression of IRP2 was assessed by quantitative RT‐PCR and immunohistochemistry in human colorectal cancer tissue. By interrogating The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, expression of IRP2 and transferrin receptor‐1 (TfR1) was assessed relative to common mutations that are known to occur in cancer. The impact of suppressing IRP2 on cellular iron metabolism was also determined by using siRNA and by using the MEK inhibitor trametinib. IRP2 was overexpressed in colorectal cancer compared to normal colonic mucosa and its expression was positively correlated with TfR1 expression. In addition, IRP2 expression was associated with mutations in BRAF. The MEK inhibitor trametinib suppressed IRP2 and this was associated with a suppression in TfR1 and the labile iron pool (LIP). Moreover, epidermal growth factor stimulation resulted in decreased ferritin expression and an increase in the LIP which were independent of IRP2. Results presented here suggest that ablating IRP2 provides a therapeutic platform for intervening in colorectal tumorigenesis.     

FHIT基因在结直肠癌中的表达及其与细胞凋亡抑制的相关性

Objective： To investigate the expression of fragile histidine triad （FHIT） protein in normal colorectal tissue, colorectal adenoma and colorectal cancer （CRC）, and to study the relationships between the expression of FHIT protein and the clinical pathology, the apoptosis-associated protein （Bcl-2, Bax, Survivin）, apoptosis in colorectal cancer. Methods： Tissue microarray （TMA） and immunohistochemistry SP were used to detect the expression of FHIT gene, Bcl-2, Bax and Survivin in 16 cases of the normal colorectal tissue, 16 cases of colorectal adenoma and 80 cases of the colorectal cancer. TUNEL was used to detect the apoptosis index （Al） in 80 cases of the colorectal cancer. Results： （1） The positive rates of FHIT gene expression in normal colorectal tissue, colorectal adenoma and adenocancer were 93.75%, 68.75% and 46.25% respectively. There were no significant differences in the relationships between the FHIT gene expression and histological types, the gender as well as the age （P〉0.05）. There were significant relationships between FHIT gene expression and lymph node metastasis, histological grades, Duke＇s system as well as the 5-year survival rate after operation. （2） The positive rates of Bax, Bcl-2 and Survivin in colorectal adenocancer were 72.50%, 51.25%, 77.50% respectively. The expression of FHIT gene was positively correlated with that of Bcl-2, Bax and Survivin. （3） The mean AI in FHIT negative tumors was significantly lower than that in FHIT positive tumors （P〈0.01）. Conclusion： FHIT gene may play a role in the oncogenesis and progression of colorectal cancer. The abnormal regulation of apoptosis may play an important role in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer.     

Increased topoisomerase IIα expression in colorectal cancer is associated with advanced disease and chemotherapeutic resistance via inhibition of apoptosis

Topoisomerase IIα is a nuclear enzyme that regulates the tertiary structure of DNA. The influence of topoisomerase IIα gene (TOP2A) or protein alterations on disease progression and treatment response in colorectal cancer (CRC) is unknown. The study investigated the clinical relevance of topoisomerase IIα in CRC using in vivo and in vitro models.     

Individual tumorigenesis pathways of sporadic colorectal adenocarcinomas are associated with the biological behavior of tumors

Clinicopathologic features of sporadic colorectal adenocarcinomas were compared using integrated data from 244 patients subjected to curative resection. Individual steps in the tumorigenesis pathway, that is, adenomatosis polyposis coli (APC), Wnt-activated, base excision repair mutations, mismatch repair defects, RAF-mediated, transforming growth factor (TGF)-b-suppressed, bone morphogenic protein (BMP)-suppressed, and p53 alterations, were examined in terms of genetic and epigenetic changes, as well as protein expression. Genetic and molecular alterations of right colon cancers were distinct from those of left colon and rectal cancers. Rectal cancers showed the attenuated phenotype of left colon cancers. Tumors most frequently displayed either TGF-b- or BMP-suppressed alterations (81.2%), followed by RAF-mediated alterations (78.6%), and mismatch repair defects (38.4%), constituting a total of 24 integrated pathways. Tumors lacking APC mutations or carrying the RAF alteration (V600E) were frequently associated with lymphovascular invasion and lymph node metastasis ( P <  0.05). Poorly differentiated or mucinous adenocarcinomas were generally associated with high level microsatellite instability, Axin2 suppression, TGF-b1 or BMPR1A suppression, loss of heterozygosity of D18S46 or D18S474 , and absence of base excision repair mutations ( P <  0.0001–0.05). Early tumor recurrence was significantly correlated with lack of APC mutations ( P =  0.036). Moreover, tumors that concurrently displayed APC/Wnt-activated, TGF-b/BMP-suppressed, and p53 alterations were significantly predisposed to early recurrence ( P =  0.026). Our data clearly indicate that particular steps or pathways of colorectal tumorigenesis are closely associated with characteristic clinicopathologic features that, in turn, determine biological behavior, such as tumor growth, invasion, and recurrence. ( Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 1348–1354)     

Multiple genetic changes are associated with mammary tumorigenesis in Brca1 conditional knockout mice.

Germline mutations in the tumor suppressor gene BRCA1 predispose women to breast cancer, however somatic mutations in the gene are rarely detected in sporadic cancers. To understand this phenomenon, we examined mouse models carrying conditional disruption of Brca1 in mammary epithelium in either p53 wild type (wt) or heterozygous backgrounds. Although a p53(+/-) mutation significantly accelerated tumorigenesis, both strains developed mammary tumors in a stochastic fashion, suggesting that multiple factors, in addition to p53 mutations, may be involved in Brca1 related tumorigenesis. A unique feature of Brca1 mammary tumors is their highly diverse histopathology accompanied by severe chromosome abnormalities. The tumors also display extensive genetic/molecular alterations, including overexpression of ErbB2, c-Myc, p27 and Cyclin D1 in the majority of tumors, while they were virtually ERalpha and p16 negative. Translocations involving p53 were also identified which lead to abnormal RNA and protein products. In addition, we generated cell lines from mammary tumors and found that the cells retained many of the genetic changes found in the primary tumors, suggesting that these genes may be players in Brca1-associated tumorigenesis. Despite their distinct morphology, all cultured tumor cells were Tamoxifen resistant but highly sensitive to Doxorubicin or gamma-irradiation, suggesting that these methods would be effective in treatment of this disease.     

N-ethyl-N-formylhydrazine tumorigenesis in mice

N-ethyl-N-formylhydrazine (EFH) was administered as a 0.02%solution in drinking water continuously for life to randomlybred Swiss mice, from 6 weeks of age. The treatment inducedtumors of the lungs, blood vessels, liver, gall bladder andpreputial glands. The tumor incidences in treated females forthese five tissues were 98, 94, 0, 2 and 0%, whereas in thetreated males they were 78, 64, 26, 8 and 10%, respectively.Histopathologically the lesions were adenomas and adenocarcinomasof the lungs, angiomas and angiosarcomas of blood vessels, benignhepatomas, liver cell carcinomas, adenomas and adenocarcinomasof the gall bladder, and squamous cell papillomas and carcinomasof preputial glands. The study is part of a structure activity relationship inquiryand proves the carcinogenicity of EFH, a structural homologueof N-methyl-N-formyl-hydrazine, an ingredient of the ediblefalse morel mushroom.     

The human tumor suppressor CEACAM1 modulates apoptosis and is implicated in early colorectal tumorigenesis

Defects in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor pathway are sufficient for neoplastic transformation as the initiating step in colorectal carcinogenesis. In contrast, hyperplastic tumors possess normal APC function, and it is unclear whether they represent significant precursor lesion in cancer development. CEACAM1 is a tumor suppressor whose expression is known to be lost in the great majority of early adenomas and carcinomas. We found that loss of CEACAM1 expression is more common in neoplastic tumors than APC mutations. While APC function was normal in hyperplastic aberrant cypt foci and hyperplastic polyps, loss of CEACAM1 was observed as frequently as in the neoplasias. Moreover, the presence or absence of CEACAM1 expression in the hyperplastic tumors correlates with normal or reduced apoptosis, respectively. In vitro, CEACAM1 acts as a regulator of apoptosis in CEACAM1-transfected Jurkat cells. Finally, in human HT29 colon cancer cells, apoptosis can be specifically restored by induction of CEACAM1 expression. These data suggest an oncodevelopmental link between neoplasia and hyperplasia and demonstrate that CEACAM1 acts as a regulator of apoptosis in the colonic epithelium. Thus, failure of the maturing colon cell to express CEACAM1 is likely to contribute to the development of hyperplastic lesions, which may eventually pave the way to neoplastic transformation and colon cancer development.     

丁酸钠抑制二甲基肼诱发小鼠大肠癌的实验研究

背景与目的:体外研究证实丁酸钠能促进多种肿瘤细胞分化,抑制细胞生长,诱导细胞凋亡。本研究给予小鼠直肠内灌注丁酸钠,旨在观察丁酸钠对二甲基肼(dimethylhydrazine,DMH)诱发的昆明种小鼠大肠癌的预防作用。方法:选择昆明种小鼠为实验对象,模型组以DMH30mg/kg,皮下注射,每周一次,连续给药11周。实验组分别以1.25×10-3mol/kg、2.5×10-3mol/kg丁酸钠溶液,直肠灌注,每天一次,连续24周。分别于给药后第12周、18周和24周分3个阶段处死小鼠。观察肿瘤的发生率,以及2.5×10-3mol/kg丁酸钠灌肠组小鼠的一般状态、体重增长、肝肾功能、以及肝、肾、肺、胰腺等病理变化。结果:实验12周各组小鼠未见肿瘤发生;18周时,模型组小鼠肿瘤发生率为58.3%(7/12),1.25×10-3mol/kg丁酸钠组肿瘤发生率为25.0%(3/12),2.5×10-3mol/kg丁酸钠组肿瘤发生率为0(0/12),各组相比差异有显著性(P<0.01);实验24周结果,模型组小鼠肿瘤发生率为95.0%(19/20),1.25×10-3mol/kg丁酸钠组肿瘤发生率45.0%(9/20),2.5×10-3mol/kg丁酸钠组肿瘤发生率为15.0%(3/20),各组间有显著性差异(P<0.01)。单纯2.5×10-3mol/kg丁酸钠灌肠组和生理盐水对照组均未发现肿瘤。单纯2.5×10-3mol/kg丁酸钠灌肠组小鼠一般状态良好,体重增长及肝、肾功能均与生理盐水灌肠组无显著性差异(P>0.05),肝脏、肾脏、胰腺等重要脏器未见病理性改变。结论:丁酸钠能够抑制DMH诱发的实验性小鼠大肠癌的发生和发展,并且无明显毒副作用发生。