Is Sunflower Cooking Oil Desirable for Colorectal Cancer? In Vivo Studies on Azoxymethane-Induced Colon Cancer in Rats

The incorporation of oils in the diet may have promoting or inhibitory effects on Colorectal Cancer (CRC). In this study, azoxymethane (AOM) was used to mimic CRC in rats and the effect of sunflower oil on cancer progression in the colon of the rats was tested. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of sunflower oil on preneoplastic cancer properties on the colonic mucosal surface for tumors and the aberrant crypt foci (ACF). Six weeks old Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomized into 4 groups of 6 rats each, namely naïve, positive control, negative control and sunflower oil-fed. CRC was induced by AOM by subcutaneous injection of 20 mg/kg. After CRC induction, the rats were given respective treatment of either basal diet (naïve group), 10 mg/kg indomethacin (positive control), 0.9% saline (negative control), and 7% sunflower oil (experimental group) daily by oral gavage for 42 days. Rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation; colon samples were visually observed for any tumors on the colonic mucosal surface and evaluated for ACF; histopathological examinations were also performed. The mean body weights of the rats were similar in all groups as per one-way ANOVA. A total of 3 ACF were found in the negative group while none were observed in others. The crypts appeared regular with circular luminal openings and were arranged closely packed together in the naïve group. Crypts in the positive and treated group had a similar appearance like naïve group. Sunflower oil inhibition of the preneoplastic cancer ACF properties were tested but were found to be insignificant when administered during CRC treatment or management. However long-term experiment with a greater number of days will yield better development of tumor and ACF development and will be useful identifying the molecular mechanism.