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

BACKGROUND/AIM 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. MATERIALS AND 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. CONCLUSION The chemoprevention diet had a protective effect against tumor development in the mouse lungs.