Colorectal cancer--chemoprevention.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in The United States. During the last fifteen years, emphasis has been placed on identification of high risk patients and families and outline of appropriate surveillance regimens for normal and high risk patients for colorectal cancer. Parallel to this effort, abundant clinical data has been accumulated that chemoprevention of colorectal cancer with nonsteroidals and aspirin may be possible. Interruption of prostaglandin metabolism appears to be one of the mechanisms of action but not the only therapeutic arm. Currently, sulindac, aspirin, calcium and selenium supplementation are attractive recommendations to at risk patients awaiting results of clinical trials. Other agents in development add excitement to the concept of colorectal cancer chemoprevention.