ALPHA(1)-ANTITRYPSIN AS A BIOMARKER IN AZOXYMETHANE-INDUCED INTESTINAL TUMORS IN F344 RATS

Alpha1-antitrypsin (alpha1AT) has been detected in several human tumor s and is thought to be a marker of neoplastic change and progression. As the biology of azoxymethane (AOM) induced intestinal tumors in F344 rats has many characteristics of human intestinal tumors, we have inv estigated alpha1AT expression in AOM induced rat intestinal tumors. Ni ne of 12 colonic carcinomas and 6/8 small intestinal carcinomas had al pha1AT positive tumor cells. Only 1/11 colonic adenomas and 0/3 small intestinal adenomas contained alpha1AT. Thus alpha1AT is a marker of m alignancy in this model. Inhibition of carcinogenesis by piroxicam and difluoromethyl ornithine inhibited alpha1AT expression.