The Wonders of Acetaminophen: It Also Protects From Colon Cancer

91st annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research

While a number of analgesics are shown to inhibit tumour growth, anti-cancer properties of acetaminophen appear to work earlier during the neoplastic process. According to the recent research at the New York Medical College in Valhalla, acetaminophen can prevent the beginning of colon cancer by blocking the action of food mutagens. Treatment of rats with acetaminophen prior to the administration of 3,2'dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (a carcinogen, similar to the one formed during cooking) "produced a marked cytoprotective effect," Dr. Gary Williams, principal investigator of the study, said at the 91st annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research. While these results are very exciting, clinical trials with people at risk for colon cancer are necessary to determine whether administration of acetaminophen would reduce this risk in humans.