Their potential activity against oxidative damage, their ability to inhibit proliferation and cell migration in several human colonic adenocarcinoma-derived cell lines, and their potential ability to induce the activity of detoxifying antioxidant enzymes, such as NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase and the glutathione S-transferase, were assessed as part of a preliminary study on their protective and antitumor effects. The gene discussed is HPGDS; the disease is colon adenocarcinoma.