MedPath

Colon Cancer Prevention Using Selenium

Early Phase 1
Conditions
Prevention of Colorectal Cancer
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT01211561
Lead Sponsor
University of Illinois at Chicago
Brief Summary

Selenium's ability to prevent colorectal cancer (CRC) has been suspected for nearly 30 years, but has never been directly studied in humans. The investigators will directly assess selenium's ability to prevent CRC by measuring alterations in aberrant crypt foci (ACF), an accepted surrogate marker for CRC.

ACF's are very small (i.e., microscopic) collections of abnormally shaped cells that are a commonly used marker of CRC risk. Screening colonoscopy at UIC routinely uses methods that allow ACF counting to be done as a part of standard practice. ACF's are not fixed, like polyps or cancers, but can disappear as a person's risk for developing CRC decreases.

The investigators propose giving patient's with 6 or more ACF's 200 mcg selenized yeast or placebo, and determining if there is a drug-dependant decrease in ACF number. The primary objective is to determine whether selenized yeast supplementation, compared to placebo, causes significant reduction of ACF number from baseline levels. The primary endpoint will be change in ACF number

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
50
Inclusion Criteria
  • All non-pregnant patients >50 years of age
Exclusion Criteria
  • The following will be specifically looked for, and result in patients not being eligible for study enrollment:

    • Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or glucocorticosteroids within 60 days of study entry.
    • History of chronic IBD or prior pelvic radiation (inflammation distorts crypt pattern).
    • Intake of any selenium supplements within 60 days of study entry, including vitamins.
    • Patients with increased bleeding risk from biopsy protocol (i.e. renal failure, decompensated cirrhosis, blood dyscrasia).

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Selenium, selenomethionineSelenium, selenomethionine-
placeboplacebo-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Reduction in ACF biomarkers6 months
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center

🇺🇸

Chicago, Illinois, United States

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