Mesalazine‐induced apoptosis of colorectal cancer: on the verge of a new chemopreventive era?

Abstract

This pilot study conducted in patients with colorectal cancer clearly shows that mesalazine selectively induces apoptosis of tumour cells. On the basis of these findings, which need to be confirmed in larger studies, it may be speculated that 5-ASA could be useful in the chemoprevention of colorectal cancer.