[Epidemiology and prevention of cancer]

Primary prevention is of priority in cancer control. This primarily applies to malignant neoplasms whose direct cause is smoking. Modifications in nutrition by consuming more fresh vegetables and fruits, by reducing calories, by enhancing physical activity, and correspondingly, a decrease in body weight will result in lower incidence of cancer of the stomach, colon, breast, uterine body, prostate and affect the risk for malignancy associated with smoking and other environmental carcinogenic factors. Prevention of infectious exposures, including vaccination, is the most effective method for controlling cancer of the cervix uteri and liver, some leukemias and lymphomas, H. pylori-associated gastric cancer. The most important components of cancer control are to monitor the enterprises, ambient and room air for carcinogens and to lower adverse impact of ultraviolet and ionizing radiation on man. Progress in molecular biology enables one to involve into carcinogenesis at its each stage. The risk associated with carcinogenic exposure can be assessed by taking into account not only the carcinogenicity of an environmental factor and its dosage, but also individual sensitivity. Information on specific molecular genetic changes that are specific for different carcinogenic substances and tumors, the so-called finger prints, may be used for identification of a carcinogenic factor and correspondingly for prevention, as well as preclinical diagnosis and gene therapy at early stages of carcinogenesis.