Protective effects of an antiulcer agent, ecabet sodium on colorectal carcinogenesis in rodents.

A new antiulcer agent, ecabet sodium is one of dehydroabietic acid derivatives prepared from pine resin. The effects of ecabet sodium on colorectal carcinogenesis were investigated in azoxymethane-pretreated mice with chronic ulcerative colitis induced by 3 repeated administration of 3% dextran sulfate sodium and in 1, 2-dimethylhydrazine-treated rats. Although daily treatment with ecabet sodium did not affect the colorectal DNA-synthesizing enzyme activities and bromodeoxyuridine-immunoreactive S-phase cells, high-grade dysplasia in ecabet sodium-treated mice was less frequent than in untreated mice. In rats, ecabet sodium administration reduced the elevated activity of thymidylate synthetase in colorectal tumors.