Effect of bile acids on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer in rats.

The effects of intercepting a part of the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids by ileal resection or bypass on the quantitative and qualitative changes of fecal bile acids were investigated in rats, and the relationship of these changes to the development of DMH-induced colon cancer was studied. The daily fecal total bile acid level was increased in all intercepted groups, especially those with long resection and exclusion. Total bile acid levels played a greater role in the development of DMH-induced colon cancer than did primary or secondary bile acid levels individually. Our findings suggest that bile acid acts as a promoter in the development of colon cancer.