Tissue bile acids in patients with colon cancer and colonic polyps

The purpose of this study was to determine whether in man unusual types of concentrations or bile acids were present in colonic polyps, colon carcinomas, or the adjacent, apparently normal tissue. Methods for the determination of soluble and tissue-bound bile acids were validated. Of 14 polyps analyzed, eight contained detectable levels of bile acid, predominantly chenodeoxycholic acid; no lithocholic acid was observed in either the tissue-bound or soluble bile acid fractions. Bile acids were found in four of nine samples of colon carcinoma; in one tumor, tissue-bound lithocholic acid was present. Bile acids were similarly found in seven of 10 samples of normal bowel taken adjacent to the carcinoma. In the soluble bile acid fraction, cholic acid was more abundant than chenodeoxycholic acid. There was no correlation between tissue histology and bile acid composition or concentration. Under the conditions used, this study did not disclose a relationship between tissue bile acids and colorectal histology.