Controversies in Chemoprevention of Colorectal Cancer with Ursodeoxycholic Acid

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers among men and women in western countries. Both in vitro and in vivo data strongly suggest that ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a tertiary bile acid found naturally in low concentrations in humans may protect against CRC. Human studies also suggest that UDCA inhibits tumor development in high-risk subjects and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). On the contrary, more recent studies have portrayed higher cancer incidence in patients treated with UDCA. However, higher doses of UDCA are alleged for increased cancer incidences in these studies. Dual role of UDCA in chemoprevention is an important field for future investigations.