Chemoprevention of cancer.
In this short article, we review the conceptual basis for chemoprevention of cancer, the proven clinical efficacy of this concept, and current trends to develop new chemopreventive agents based on understanding of their mechanisms of action. Four classes of new agents, namely selective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2, selective estrogen receptor modulators, rexinoids (retinoids that bind selectively to the receptors known as RXRs) and ligands for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma are discussed in detail. The importance of developing totally new classes of chemopreventive agents is stressed, with particular emphasis on the potential usefulness of new synthetic triterpenoids derived from naturally occurring molecules.
Sporn
M B
MB
Department of Pharmacology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH 03755, USA. michael.b.sporn@dartmouth.edu
Suh
N
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D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D018890:Chemoprevention; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013185:Squalene / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D013185:Squalene