Big punches come in nanosizes for chemoprevention

Literature to support the chemopreventive potential of several bioactive molecules has been prolific and convincing, but the clinical development of these agents has been slow. Major hurdles for development of bioactive chemoprevention approaches include low potency, lack of reliable formulations with high bioavailability that are suitable for oral administration, and relevant preclinical primary prevention models that use meaningful doses that can be translated to humans. The paper presented in this issue (Grandhi and colleagues) is an important step forward in this direction. It shows the efficacy of an oral, low dose, solid-lipid nanoparticles encapsulated curcumin and aspirin combined with free sulforaphane for long-term chemoprevention of pancreatic cancer in a carcinogen-induced hamster model. Reproducing this benefit in multiple cancer models, accompanied by development of intermediate markers of response will allow rapid translation of these findings. It will constitute the first successful multipronged attack at key pathways known to initiate and promote carcinogenesis.