To test whether NO-naproxen could reduce activation of the pathway, researchers used colon cancer cells that become bioluminescent when the WNT/b-catenin pathway is active. Cells treated with NO-naproxen had about 50 percent less bioluminescence than cells treated with naproxen, according to the release.
“The major and novel finding from the study is that the NO-naproxen can alter a particular signaling pathway that is one of the earliest events in colon cancer formation,” Margie Clapper, PhD, co-leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at Fox Chase, said in the release. “Based on the in vitro data, we think that NO-naproxen is much better than naproxen in nipping this whole process in the bud.”
To confirm the in vitro results, the team has treated mice that are genetically predisposed to develop colorectal adenomas with NO-naproxen and naproxen and are awaiting the results of this study.
Read the Fox Chase release on NO-naproxen in preventing colon cancer development.
