Termination of piroxicam treatment and the occurrence of azoxymethane-induced colon cancer in rats.

Piroxicam has been shown to prevent azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon cancer when administered during the promotion/ progression phase. The requirement for continued treatment with piroxicam in order to maintain prevention of colon cancer was investigated. Male F344 rats were administered 15 mg/kg AOM at 7 and 8 weeks of age and started to receive piroxicam (200 mg/kg) in their diet at 11 weeks after the second dose of AOM. Piroxicam was removed from the diet of some of the rats at weeks 19 and 28 and the animals were held until week 47. Other rats continued to receive piroxicam until sacrificed at week 47. Treatment with piroxicam from week 11-47 reduced the yield of colon tumors. When treatment was terminated at week 19 or 28 the yield of tumors at week 47 was not reduced. Within 1 week of the start of piroxicam treatment, the number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF)/animal was decreased. Termination of treatment resulted in the recurrence of ACF. Apoptosis in adenomas was increased when piroxicam treatment was continued to week 47 but not when treatment was terminated earlier at week 19 or 28. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen-labeling index in adenomas was not affected by piroxicam even when treatment was from week 11 to 47. In summary, termination of treatment resulted in the occurrence of ACF and colon cancer indicating that prevention by piroxicam was reversible. Furthermore, enhancement of apoptosis and not decreased cell proliferation correlated with prevention of colon cancer.