Background: The aim of this study is to assess the role of high fibre diet and aspirin on dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colorectal cancer in rats.
Materials and methods: Colorectal tumours were induced with DMH. The animals were randomly divided into five groups (15 rats each): I, controls; II, rats receiving only the carcinogen; III, rats receiving the carcinogen and high fibre diet; IVA, rats receiving the carcinogen plus low dose aspirin; IVB, rats receiving the carcinogen plus high dose aspirin.
Results: Adenocarcinomas were detected in 100% of the rats in group II, 47% of the rats in group III (chi2, p<0.05), 100% of the rats in group IVA, but the incidence was reduced to 50% in the rats of group IVB (p<0.05).
Conclusions: These data indicate that high fibre diet and aspirin suppress experimental colon carcinogenesis and the protective effect of aspirin is dose related.