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Compounds being developed into drugs to treat atherosclerosis and obesity may put patients at risk for colorectal cancer, according to a report in the March issue of Nature Medicine.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-g (PPAR-g) is a transcription factor that activates genes involved in a number of important pathways in the body. Drugs that enhance the effects of PPAR-g are therefore being considered for use in treating certain diseases. But Raymond Dubois and colleagues found that activating PPAR-d increases the number and size of polyps--precancerous growths--in mice that are genetically predisposed to developing intestinal polyps. Because larger polyps have a higher chance of progressing to a cancerous state, the authors caution that patients with pre-existing polyps may be at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer if they take drugs that enhance PPAR-g. Author contact: Raymond N. Dubois
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN, USA,
Tel: +1 615 343 0527
E-mail: raymond.dubois@vanderbilt.edu Dr Dubois is in Colorado until 1 February, but available on his cellphone on +1 615 243 4747, or via Cynthia Manley (Vanderbilt Media Relations) on +1 615 838 0280 Also available online. (C) Nature Medicine press release.
Message posted by: Trevor M. D'Souza
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