Chemoprevention research at the U.S. National Cancer Institute

The use of specific chemicals to prevent the development or retard the progression of carcinogenesis--known as chemoprevention--is a rapidly growing area in cancer research. Developed through the integration of strong laboratory and epidemiologic evidence, chemoprevention research has moved successfully into the clinical research setting, with diverse agents being tested for their efficacy in individuals at high risk of developing certain cancers. The public health potential for reducing cancer incidence and mortality through chemical intervention provides a unique and promising opportunity, and continued support of this multidisciplinary approach to cancer prevention remains a high priority for the U.S. National Cancer Institute.