Role of bile acid secretion in human colorectal cancer.

ABSTRACT

Cholic, deoxycholic and lithocholic acid promote tumor formation in the large intestine by a direct proliferative effect on rather undifferentiated mucosal epithelial cells. In addition, bile acids may play a role in colorectal cancer pathogenesis because they reduce the chemopreventive efficiency of calcium and vitamin D by interfering with calcium and vitamin D receptor-activated anti-mitogenic intracellular signalling in neoplastic colonocytes.