Effective Drugs for Treating Colorectal Cancer

In the issues of Gastroenterology, the use of inhibitors for phosphodiesterase (PDE5) (commonly used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction) is related to a 35% reduction in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) risk among patients in benign colorectal neoplasm. CRC risk was reduced due to an increased combined dose of inhibitor usage of PDE5.

Colon polyps may grow into CRC and the risk of CRC is increased for colonoscopic patients, compared with people without polyps who received polypectomy. Researchers have searched for agents that could reduce CRC risk, in particular in colon polyp patients. The risk of CRC reduces by between 20 and 30% with clopidogrel and low-dose aspirin alone, but other chemographic prevention agents are required. However, a colonoscopy needs to be done beforehand.

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are a group of messengers blocking secondary messenger signals associated with monophosphate cyclic adenosin and monophosphate cyclic guanosine (cGMP). PDE5 promotes the cGMP signaling pathway to regulate intestinal cell proliferation, migration, differentiation and apoptosis. PDE5 is inappropriately expressed with regular colonic mucosa in human CRC cell lines and colon adenomas and adenocarcinomas.

PDE5 is one kind of the therapy that is used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. However, several research demonstrated that PDE5 inhibitors are active against cancer and can prevent colorectal cancer. A variety of PDE5 inhibitors, including sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil with less adverse effects has been developed. Inhibited polyp formation and the tumorigenesis of APCMin/+ mice, Sildenafil (the most widely used PDE5 inhibitor) can also be treated.

Experts investigated whether the use of PDE5 (sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil) inhibitors was associated with a decreased risk of CRC in the OKlahoma Hospital Discharge Registry of patients who are male and are diagnosed with benign colorectal neoplasm. There were no female patients in this sample, because few women are using PDE5 inhibitors.

How could inhibitors of PDE5 prevent colorectal cancer? Experts explain that the PDE5 degrades cGMP in an editorial accompanying the post. cGMP maintains an epithelial homeostasis by structure organization and integrity of crypt villus. Low cGMP activity increases the proliferation of the intestinal cell, lowers secretive cell lineage differentiation in the intestine and affects the epithelial barrier. This prevents the intestinal epithel, which contributes to inflammation and cancer, from destroying chemical compounds, carcinogenes, patentitis and ionizing radiation. Thus, PDE5 inhibitors block these processes by retaining high concentrations of cGMP.

The findings of the research show that the CRC's chemopreventive effects on a particular class of drugs are common, It also states that future studies and their effects on CRC risk are required to better demonstrate that such medicines can prevent colorectal carcinogenesis.

Go for colonoscopy to get the diagnosis at an early stage. Visit Screen The City in OKC to book your schedule for colonoscopy.

**Disclaimer: This blog content does not intend to offer a doctor’s advice and mentions no relationship between any patient and the care provider.