Potential Role of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Colorectal Cancer Chemoprevention for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Umbrella Review

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a category of autoimmune diseases that targets the destruction of the gastrointestinal system and includes both Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Patients with IBD are at a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) throughout their lives due to chronically increased inflammation. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are potential chemopreventative agents that can inhibit the development of CRC in persons without IBD. However, the use of NSAIDs for CRC chemoprevention in IBD patients is further complicated by NSAIDs’ induction of damage to the bowel mucosal layer and ulcer formation. There has been a push in new research on chemopreventative properties of certain NSAIDs for IBD. The purpose of this umbrella review is to investigate the potential of low-dose NSAID compounds as chemopreventative agents for patients with IBD. This paper will also suggest future areas of research in the prevention of CRC for patients with IBD.