Current status of retinoid chemoprevention of lung cancer.
Clinical trials have suggested that retinoid chemoprevention prevents the development of second primary tumors following head and neck or non-small-cell lung cancer. The findings of these initial studies are now being evaluated in large multi-institution chemoprevention trials. If successful, these ongoing trials will establish the clinical role of retinoids in lung cancer prevention. The findings of these trials may also lead to strategies for primary lung cancer prevention. Until the results of these studies become available, however, lung cancer chemoprevention remains an experimental approach. The recent unexpected findings of increased lung cancer incidence in a beta-carotene study in Finnish smokers stresses the importance of establishing the efficacy of chemoprevention agents in carefully conducted clinical trials.
Benner
S E
SE
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
Lippman
S M
SM
Hong
W K
WK
D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005060:Europe; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005544:Forecasting; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012176:Retinoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D012176:Retinoids; D002338:Carotenoids