Chemoprevention with acetylsalicylic acid, vitamin D and calcium reduces risk of carcinogen-induced lung tumors.

OBJECTIVE

Research has shown that chemoprevention may be effective against the development of lung cancer. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of oral chemoprevention in a mouse model of tobacco carcinogen-induced lung tumor.

METHODS

A total of 60 A/J mice were randomized to a normal diet, a diet with low calcium, or a chemoprevention diet with acetylsalicylic acid, 1-α 25(0H)2-vitamin D3 and calcium. In addition to the diet, mice received carcinogens by oral gavage for ten weeks.

RESULTS

The chemoprevention diet significantly reduced the number of animals with tumors [1 vs. 13, (p<0.001)] and the median number (range) of tumors [0 (0-1) vs. 1 (0-4), (p<0.001)] compared to controls. No signs of toxicity in relation to the diets were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The chemoprevention diet had a protective effect against tumor development in the mouse lungs.