Patient populations with a propensity to develop colon cancer have increased amounts of fecal cholesterol (and/or cholesterol metabolites). In this study, we report the effect of increased colonic concentrations of cholesterol and its metabolites on colon tumor promotion. The chemical carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea was instilled intrarectally into rats to initiate colon tumor formation. Following initiation, a cholesterol-supplemented diet was given. Despite a 2-fold elevation of fecal cholesterol, the number of colon tumors found was significantly reduced. These studies suggest that under certain conditions cholesterol may inhibit colon carcinogenesis.

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This work was supported by NIH Grant CA 27438 as part of the National Large Bowel Cancer Project, Grant HL 24061 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, and grants from the Veterans Administration.

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©1982 American Association for Cancer Research.
1982
Cancer Research, Inc.