Scientists have discovered a drug combination that may help to reduce colorectal cancer risk. The researchers also presented their findings at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting this week.

The scientists found that a combination therapy consisting of low doses of a drug referred to as DFMO plus a drug known as sulindac (sah-LYNN-dak) reduced the risk of colorectal benign tumors, which are an early sign of colon cancer.

The study included 375 people with a history of colorectal polyps who were followed for three years. Patients were randomly assigned either to a combination of DMFO and sulindac or to a placebo.

Patients taking the drug combination experienced a 70 percent reduction in the risk of a new tumor development compared with patients receiving the placebo. Patients with advanced tumors saw a 92 percent reduction in their risk of developing new tumors, patients with large tumors saw a 90 percent reduction, and patients with multiple tumors saw a 95 percent decrease.

Researchers believe that the drug combination could be used to help prevent colorectal cancer for people at high risk and to prevent cancer recurrence in those who have already had the disease.