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Cancer chemoprevention: progress and promise
G J Kelloff1, C C Sigman, P Greenwald
1Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Abstract:
Cancer chemoprevention is the use of agents to inhibit, delay or reverse carcinogenesis. The focus of chemoprevention research in the next millennium will include defining the genotypic and phenotypic (functional and histological) changes during carcinogenesis, the cancer risk conferred by these changes, their modulation in preclinical experimentation and randomised clinical trials by chemopreventive drugs, dietary agents and regimens and treatments resulting from early detection. The key elements of this research effort will be basic and translational risk evaluation programmes; chemopreventive and dietary agent drug discovery and development; development of transgenic animal models; required safety and pharmacology studies; well-designed phase I, II and III chemoprevention studies; and much expanded early detection programmes. The large number of chemoprevention research programmes now ongoing ensures that the promise of chemoprevention will continue to be realised in the next decade.
Insights
Cancer chemoprevention research will define genetic and cellular changes during cancer development. This will guide the use of drugs and diet to prevent cancer through preclinical and clinical studies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Preventive Medicine
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cancer chemoprevention involves using agents to inhibit, delay, or reverse carcinogenesis.
- Future research will focus on understanding genetic and phenotypic changes during cancer development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the future direction of cancer chemoprevention research.
- To identify key research elements for advancing chemoprevention strategies.
Main Methods:
- Defining genotypic and phenotypic changes during carcinogenesis.
- Assessing cancer risk associated with these changes.
- Modulating carcinogenesis using chemopreventive drugs, dietary agents, and early detection treatments.
Main Results:
- Future research will integrate basic and translational risk evaluation.
- Drug discovery and development for chemopreventive agents will be crucial.
- Transgenic animal models and robust clinical trials (Phase I-III) are essential.
Conclusions:
- Ongoing chemoprevention research programs are robust.
- The promise of chemoprevention is expected to be realized in the coming decade.
- Advancements in understanding carcinogenesis and developing targeted interventions will drive progress.