title: Chemoprevention clinical trials.
abstract: As part of a program to develop drugs which will delay or prevent cancer in humans, the Chemoprevention Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, is sponsoring 12 Phase I and 22 Phase II and III clinical trials. Three agent classes are significantly advanced in the trials. These are the retinoids, including 13-cis-retinoic acid, retinol, and 4-hydroxyphenylretinamide (nine studies), beta-carotene (seven studies), and calcium compounds (three studies). In addition, six promising new compounds are in Phase I or Phase II trials. These are: piroxicam, ibuprofen, oltipraz (a dithiolthione), difluoromethylornithine, glycyrrhetinic acid, and N-acetylcysteine. Key concepts related to the development of cancer chemopreventive agents are (1) the need for long-term administration, (2) the need for oral route of administration, (3) the matching of toxic side effects to degree of cancer risk.
authors.affiliation: Chemoprevention Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Kelloff
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Boone
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Steele
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents