Medication combination could avert colon cancer

UCI researchers announced Monday they have made a breakthrough in the treatment of colon cancer.

Using a low dosage of a cancer medication DFMO (diflouromethylornithine) with a commercial anti-inflammatory drug Sulindac, researchers were able to reduce the risk of reoccurring colorectal polyps, which are thought to be an early sign of colon cancer, researchers said at the American Assn. for Cancer Research meeting in San Diego.

“I think it’s a very good step forward and perhaps a breakthrough,” said Dr. Randall Holcombe, UCI’s director of the office of clinical research and trials. Holcombe was not part of the study which was conducted by Dr. Frank L. Meyskens Jr., UCI’s Daniel G. Aldrich, chairman and director of the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Others in the field were hesitant to label the study a breakthrough.

“It’s interesting, but I certainly don’t think it’s very conclusive,” said Randy Hecht, professor of clinical medicine and director of the UCLA GI Oncology Program. Hecht said the study was too small at 375 patients to determine if there were any significant side effects and was conducted in too short a time frame to truly gauge its benefits.

The study was stopped at three years by an independent monitoring board due to its dramatic effects, officials said. However, Hecht did say the findings did merit a larger study.

Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer in men and fourth in women, the study said.

Meyskens used a low dosage of DFMO, about one-fiftieth of what is normally used to treat cancers, with Sulindac to attack the colon polyps with reduced toxic side effects. The findings showed a 79% reduction in the risk of polyps recurring in the colon, a 90% drop in the risk of polyps larger than 1 centimeter, and those who had previously had more than one polyp saw their risk of repeating drop 95%, according to the study.

— Daniel Tedford