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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 28, 2014; 20(44): 16683-16689
Published online Nov 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i44.16683
Published online Nov 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i44.16683
Azathioprine does not reduce adenoma formation in a mouse model of sporadic intestinal tumorigenesis
Mattheus CB Wielenga, Jooske F van Lidth de Jeude, Sanne L Rosekrans, Alon D Levin, Monique Schukking, Geert RAM D’Haens, Jarom Heijmans, Vanesa Muncan, Gijs R van den Brink, Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research and Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center, 1105BK Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Marnix Jansen, Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Author contributions: Wielenga MCB, van Lidth de Jeude JF, Rosekrans SL, Levin AD and Schukking M performed the majority of the experiments; Jansen M performed analysis of splenic lymphomas; Wielenga MCB, Muncan V and van den Brink G designed the experiments; Wielenga MCB, D’Haens GRAM, Heijmans J, Muncan V and D’Haens GRAM wrote the manuscript and were critically involved in editing the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Mattheus CB Wielenga, MD, Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research and Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 69-71, 1105BK Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.c.wielenga@amc.nl
Telephone: +31-20-5668873
Received: January 13, 2014
Revised: April 28, 2014
Accepted: July 24, 2014
Published online: November 28, 2014
Revised: April 28, 2014
Accepted: July 24, 2014
Published online: November 28, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Treatment with thiopurines is associated with a reduced risk of developing colorectal cancer in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The molecular target of azathioprine, Rac1 has recently been implicated as a critical player during sporadic intestinal tumorigenesis. Here, we investigated the potential preventive role of azathioprine in ApcMin/+, a mouse model of sporadic intestinal tumorigenesis. Even though all azathioprine treated mice showed signs of drug-associated toxicity, it did not reduce tumor formation. We therefore conclude that in the absence of inflammation azathioprine does not affect intestinal tumorigenesis.