Elsevier

Life Sciences

Volume 62, Issue 23, 1 May 1998, Pages 367-373
Life Sciences

Pharmacology letter Accelerated communication
Cyclooxygenase-independent chemoprevention with an aspirin derivative in a rat model of colonic adenocarcinoma

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0024-3205(98)00191-XGet rights and content

Abstract

Aspirin decreases the risk of colorectal cancer, reportedly through suppression of cyclooxygenase (COX) activity. Using a rat model of colonic adenocarcinoma, we compared the chemopreventative effects of aspirin versus a nitric oxide-releasing derivative (NCX-4016) which does not inhibit COX. Beginning six weeks after intracolonic administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, the rats were given azoxymethane weekly (15 mg/kg i.p.) for 4 weeks. Over the same 4-week period, the rats were treated daily with vehicle, aspirin (10 mg/kg) or NCX-4016 (equimolar dose). Six weeks later, the number of aberrant crypt foci (an early preneoplastic lesion) were blindly counted by light microscopy. Effects of aspirin vs. NCX-4016 on COX-1 and COX-2 activity were compared, as was their analgesic activity Rats receiving vehicle developed a mean of 856 ± 260 aberrant crypt foci in the colon. Aspirin reduced the number of aberrant crypt foci by 64%, while NCX-4016 produced an 85% reduction. Aspirin, but not NCX-4016, markedly suppressed systemic COX-1 and COX-2 activity, and colonic prostaglandin synthesis. Despite not inhibiting COX, NCX-4016 exhibited comparable analgesic activity to aspirin. These results demonstrate that NCX-4016, a nitric oxide-releasing aspirin derivative, exhibited superior chemopreventative effects to aspirin in this model of colon cancer. This effect occurred independent of inhibition of COX-1 or COX-2.

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