Extracting the benefits of berberine for colorectal cancer
Mené en Chine sur 891 patients ayant présenté des adénomes colorectaux (entre 1 et 6) et subi une polypectomie complète, cet essai randomisé multicentrique en double-aveugle évalue l'effet de la berbérine sur le risque de récidive des adénomes
Colorectal cancer was the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide in 2018 . Although screening for colorectal cancer and precancerous adenomatous polyps (adenomas) has been successful in reducing colorectal cancer mortality, there are barriers to widespread implementation, associated harms, and inherent limitations to efficacy. Thus, novel strategies for prevention remain an important unmet need. Chemoprevention, defined as the use of agents (eg, medications, vitamins, or supplements) for the inhibition, delay, or reversal of carcinogenesis, is an appealing alternative or complement to screening, particularly in resource-limited settings. In 2016, the US Preventive Services Task Force recommended low-dose aspirin for the prevention of cardiovascular events and colorectal cancer in certain age groups with specific cardiovascular risk profiles. However, concerns regarding potential adverse effects of aspirin have sustained interest in additional chemopreventive agents, including natural products such as berberine, an isoquinoline quaternary alkaloid extracted from many medicinal plants.
The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology , commentaire, 2019