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Updated: Jul 27, 2026

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Cancer Drug Sensitization In Vitro and In Vivo
09:19

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Cancer Drug Sensitization In Vitro and In Vivo

Published on: February 6, 2015

Potential for chemoprevention

J J DeCosse

    Cancer
    |December 1, 1982
    PubMed

    Insights

    Chemopreventive agents, both natural and synthetic, show promise in preventing or reversing cancer stages. Human trials are underway, with retinoids and ascorbic acid demonstrating effectiveness in specific conditions.

    Area of Science:

    • Oncology
    • Pharmacology

    Background:

    • Chemopreventive agents are compounds used to prevent, inhibit, or reverse carcinogenesis.
    • These agents can be natural (e.g., vitamins, indoles, flavones) or synthetic (e.g., retinoids, antioxidants).

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To review the mechanisms and efficacy of chemopreventive agents in cancer prevention.
    • To highlight findings from in vitro, in vivo, and early human trials.

    Main Methods:

    • Review of scientific literature on chemopreventive agents.
    • Analysis of in vitro and in vivo tumor model studies.
    • Examination of data from ongoing human clinical trials.

    Main Results:

    • Chemopreventive agents exhibit diverse mechanisms, including immune stimulation, gene suppression, carcinogen detoxification, and blocking oxidative DNA damage.
    • Retinoids show effectiveness against proliferative skin tumors.
    • Ascorbic acid demonstrated a modest suppressive effect on rectal adenomas in polyposis patients.
    • 13-cis-retinoic acid shows potential in modifying oral leukoplakia.

    Conclusions:

    • Chemopreventive agents offer a promising strategy for cancer control.
    • Further human trials are crucial to establish the clinical utility of these agents.

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