Blocking and suppressing mechanisms of chemoprevention by dietary constituents.
Many dietary constituents are chemopreventive in animal models, and experiments with cultured cells are revealing various potential mechanisms of action. Compounds classified as blocking agents can prevent, or greatly reduce, initiation of carcinogenesis, while suppressing agents affect later stages of the process by reducing cell proliferation. Many compounds have both types of activity. Blocking mechanisms include alteration of drug metabolising activities and scavenging of reactive oxygen species. Mechanisms which suppress tumorigenesis often involve modulation of signal transduction pathways, leading to altered gene expression, cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. As our knowledge of how these dietary components affect cell biochemistry improves, so the likelihood of success in chemoprevention trials and in provision of dietary advice to the general population to optimise the chances of preventing disease is increased.
Manson
M M
MM
MRC Toxicology Unit, CMHT Hodgkin Building, University of Leicester, Lancaster Road, PO Box 138, Leicester, UK. mmm2@le.ac.uk
Gescher
A
A
Hudson
E A
EA
Plummer
S M
SM
Squires
M S
MS
Prigent
S A
SA
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004032:Diet; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D007211:Indoles; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; C016517:indole-3-carbinol; D003474:Curcumin