Hormonal chemoprevention of cancer in women.
The use of oral contraceptives in the United States during the past three decades has led to a dramatic decline in the incidence of cancers of the ovary and endometrium. The magnitude of these declines was predictable both from epidemiologic data and from the biologic effects of oral contraceptives on these tissues. Although the incidence of breast cancer has not been substantially affected by current oral contraceptives, it may be possible to develop alternative forms of contraception that provide protection against all three cancers. The major goal of hormonal chemoprevention of cancer is to reduce cell proliferation in the relevant epithelial tissue. New chemopreventive agents such as tamoxifen exemplify the application of this principle.
Henderson
B E
BE
Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033.
Ross
R K
RK
Pike
M C
MC
D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000736:Androstenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001378:Azasteroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D018120:Finasteride; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011372:Progestins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000736:Androstenes; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D001378:Azasteroids; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D011372:Progestins; D013629:Tamoxifen; D018120:Finasteride