Similar reductions in the risk of human colon cancer by selective and nonselective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors
2008

COX-2 Inhibitors and Colon Cancer Risk

Sample size: 978 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Harris Randall E, Beebe-Donk Joanne, Alshafie Galal A

Primary Institution: The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health

Hypothesis

Do selective and non-selective COX-2 inhibitors reduce the risk of colon cancer?

Conclusion

Both selective and non-selective COX-2 inhibitors significantly reduce the risk of colon cancer.

Supporting Evidence

  • Regular intake of NSAIDs reduces colon cancer risk by about 60%.
  • Selective COX-2 inhibitors showed a 69% reduction in colon cancer risk.
  • Acetaminophen had no significant effect on colon cancer risk.

Takeaway

Taking certain pain relievers called COX-2 inhibitors can help lower the chances of getting colon cancer.

Methodology

A case-control study comparing 326 colon cancer patients with 652 matched controls, assessing medication use and risk factors.

Potential Biases

Potential recall bias in self-reported medication use.

Limitations

The study is observational and may not account for all confounding factors.

Participant Demographics

326 colon cancer patients and 652 controls matched by age, race, and county.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.01

Confidence Interval

95% CI = 0.16–0.57

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2407-8-237

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