Folic acid reduces nuclear translocation of β-catenin in rectal mucosal crypts of patients with colorectal adenomas

We have demonstrated that folic acid inhibits cell proliferation and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation in colon cancer cell lines. We examined the effect of one year supplemental folic acid (5 mg/day) on the rectal mucosal expression of beta-catenin and pGSK3beta, known to be affected by EGF-R, in patients with colorectal adenomas. Folic acid treatment significantly reduced nuclear expression of beta-catenin (P < 0.05) and cellular expression of pGSK3beta (P < 0.01) when compared to placebo. Folic acid may exert its chemopreventive effect, at least in part, through inhibition of nuclear translocation of beta-catenin. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.