Iloprost is a prostacyclin analogue with anti-metastatic, vasodilatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Increased prostacyclin is protective in pre-clinical murine models of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), including tobacco smoke. The chemoprotective properties are independent of the single cell surface prostacyclin receptor, as knockout animals are still protected. Clinical studies of iloprost have included both oral and inhaled preparations. Oral iloprost improves endobronchial dysplasia (pre-cursor lesions for invasive SCC) in former smokers. Dysplastic lesions are now being characterized beyond histology to better understand lesion evolution. Investigations into the mechanism of iloprost associated cancer prevention (including effects on basal progenitor cells, progenitor multi-potentiality, and differentiation) and biomarkers predicting response will be presented, along with an outline for an upcoming clinical trial in former smokers.

Citation Format: Robert Keith. Iloprost for lung cancer prevention [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second Biennial NCI Meeting: Translational Advances in Cancer Prevention Agent Development (TACPAD); 2022 Sep 7-9. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Can Prev Res 2022;15(12 Suppl_2): Abstract nr IA017.