Efficacy of Vitamin D in Colorectal Cancer Chemoprevention

Completed · Phase 2 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Colorectal Cancer

In brief

Vitamin D's ability to prevent colorectal cancer (CRC) has been suspected for nearly 30 years, but has never been directly studied in humans. The biologically active version of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D3, cannot be readily used in humans because of its tendency to cause serum calcium levels to rise. In contrast, 25(OH)D3 (ie calcifediol) does not have this side effect. The investigators previous research suggests that the enzyme necessary to convert 25(OH)D3 (calcifediol) into active 1,25(OH)D3 is present in cells lining the large intestine (colon). Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) are very small (ie microscopic) collections of abnormally shaped cells that are a commonly used marker of CRC risk. Screening colonoscopy at UIC routinely uses methods that allow ACF counting to be done as a part of standard practice. ACF's are not fixed, like polyps or cancers, but can disappear as a person's risk for developing CRC decreases. The investigators propose giving patient's with 10 or more ACF's 25(OH)D3 (calcifediol) or placebo, and determining if there is a drug-dependant decrease in ACF number. The primary objective is to determine whether 25(OH)D3 (calcifediol) supplementation, compared to placebo, causes significant reduction of ACF number from baseline levels. The primary endpoint will be change in ACF number.

Key facts

Study ID
NCT01574027
Run by
University of Illinois at Chicago
People needed
55
Starts
2008-04-01
Expected to finish
2011-10-01
Last updated by the study team
2012-04-10

Who can join

Age: 50 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

You may not qualify if…

Where it is running

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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