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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 14, 2008; 14(14): 2187-2193
Published online Apr 14, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.2187
Prospective cohort comparison of flavonoid treatment in patients with resected colorectal cancer to prevent recurrence
Harald Hoensch, Bertram Groh, Lutz Edler, Wilhelm Kirch
Harald Hoensch, Kreiskrankenhaus Gross-Gerau, Innere Abteilung, Wilhelm-Seipp-Strasse, Gross-Gerau D64521, Germany
Lutz Edler, German Cancer Research Center, Division of Biostatistics, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, Heidelberg D69120, Germany
Bertram Groh, Wilhelm Kirch, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Technical University Dresden, Fiedler Strasse 27, Dresden D01307, Germany
Author contributions: Hoensch H, Groh B contributed equally to this work, performed research and acquired the data; Edler L analyzed data; Kirch W designed research.
Correspondence to: Professor Harald Hoensch, Marien-hospital Darmstadt, Martinspfad 72, Darmstadt D-64285, Germany. h.p.hoensch@vff.uni-frankfurt.de
Telephone: +49-6151-4060
Fax: +49-6152-56742
Received: December 21, 2007
Revised: February 4, 2008
Published online: April 14, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To investigate biological prevention with flavonoids the recurrence risk of neoplasia was studied in patients with resected colorectal cancer and after adenoma polypectomy.

METHODS: Eighty-seven patients, 36 patients with resected colon cancer and 51 patients after polypectomy, were divided into 2 groups: one group was treated with a flavonoid mixture (daily standard dose 20 mg apigenin and 20 mg epigallocathechin-gallat, n = 31) and compared with a matched control group (n = 56). Both groups were observed for 3-4 years by surveillance colonoscopy and by questionnaire.

RESULTS: Of 87 patients enrolled in this study, 36 had resected colon cancer and 29 of these patients had surveillance colonoscopy. Among the flavonoid-treated patients with resected colon cancer (n = 14), there was no cancer recurrence and one adenoma developed. In contrast the cancer recurrence rate of the 15 matched untreated controls was 20% (3 of 15) and adenomas evolved in 4 of those patients (27%). The combined recurrence rate for neoplasia was 7% (1 of 14) in the treated patients and 47% (7 of 15) in the controls (P = 0.027).

CONCLUSION: Sustained long-term treatment with a flavonoid mixture could reduce the recurrence rate of colon neoplasia in patients with resected colon cancer.

Keywords: Flavonoids; Colorectal cancer; Recurrence risk; Intestinal neoplasia; Colon polyps