Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 19, 2026

Measurement of Carotenoids in Perifovea using the Macular Pigment Reflectometer
09:35

Measurement of Carotenoids in Perifovea using the Macular Pigment Reflectometer

Published on: January 29, 2020

Carotenoids and cancer: prevention and potential therapy

T A Smith1

  • 1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Marsden NHS Trust, England, UK.

British Journal of Biomedical Science
|August 7, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Carotenoids from fruits and vegetables may offer cancer protection. However, high-dose beta-carotene supplements increased lung cancer risk in smokers, warranting further research into carotenoid mechanisms and cancer treatment potential.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Science
  • Oncology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Epidemiological studies link carotenoid-rich diets to reduced cancer risk.
  • Anticancer properties of fruits and vegetables persist even after accounting for fiber content.
  • Beta-carotene supplementation studies yielded conflicting results, with some showing increased lung cancer risk in smokers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of carotenoids in cancer prevention and treatment.
  • To explore the mechanisms by which carotenoids may exert anticancer effects.
  • To reconcile conflicting findings regarding beta-carotene supplementation and cancer risk.

Main Methods:

  • Review of epidemiological studies on diet and cancer.
  • Analysis of intervention studies on beta-carotene supplementation.
  • Examination of experimental data from animal and cell-based cancer models.

Main Results:

  • Carotenoids exhibit anticancer properties through various mechanisms, including antioxidant activity, vitamin A conversion, enhanced gap junction communication, induced detoxification, and proliferation inhibition.
  • Experimental studies demonstrate carotenoid efficacy in inhibiting cancer development in animals and cells.
  • High-dose beta-carotene supplementation was associated with increased lung cancer risk in smokers.

Conclusions:

  • Carotenoids play a complex role in cancer, with potential benefits from dietary sources but risks associated with high-dose supplementation.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate optimal carotenoid intake for cancer prevention and their therapeutic potential in cancer treatment.

More Related Videos

Preclinical Assessment of the Bioactivity of the Anticancer Coumarin OT48 by Spheroids, Colony Formation Assays, and Zebrafish Xenografts09:20

Preclinical Assessment of the Bioactivity of the Anticancer Coumarin OT48 by Spheroids, Colony Formation Assays, and Zebrafish Xenografts

Published on: June 26, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...