Effect of ursodeoxycholic acid in an experimental colon cancer model

Aims: the present study was designed to examine the effect of ursodeoxycholic acid as chemoprotective agent in experimental colon carcinogenesis in rats. Material and methods: one hundred and ten 10-week-old, Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: group A (20), no treatment. Group B (20), receiving daily both ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) 4 mg/kg of body weight and ethanol 1.23 g/kg of body weight added to the drinking water from the beginning of the study through 24 weeks. Group C (30), receiving 18 weekly doses of dimethylhydrazine (DMH) 21 mg/kg of body weight subcutaneously from the beginning of the study, with the same doses of UDCA and ethanol as in group B. Group D (20), ethylen-diamin-tetracetic acid solution alone for 18 weeks. Group E (20), receiving the same doses of ethanol plus DMH injections as in group C. All experimental animals were sacrificed after 25-27 weeks. Results: no tumors developed in dimethylhydrazine-free groups. No significant differences in number of tumor-free animals, number of tumors per rat, and macro-microscopic tumor findings were seen between animals in group C and animals in group E. Conclusions: we concluded that such an ursodeoxycholic acid supplementation did not modify colorectal carcinogenesis using a dynamic DMH-induced model in rats.