Positive Health Online

Abstract

BUIATTI, Centro Di Documentazione per la Salute (CDS), Bologna, Italy defines chemoprevention as the use of compounds or medicines to prevent the occurrence of precancerous lesions or to slow down or reverse the progression of clinically established cancer.

Background

Methodology

Randomised trial design is considered to be the gold standard for evaluation of the preventive value of such chemopreventive chemicals against cancer and the primary methodology regarding to cancer control via chemoprevention has been based upon studies of cancer and diet. Ecological and case-control studies have supported the hypothesis of an inverse association between certain foods and cancer risk, demonstrating that certain micronutrients protect against cancer. Other studies have included specific chemical analyses, but these may have potential methodological problems, including sample and measurement errors, leading to erroneous conclusions. Throughout this decade a number of randomised intervention trials have been conducted to test this hypothesis however, conclusions have been diverse and designs have varied considerably regarding levels of exposure, making consistent conclusions elusive.

Results

Conclusion

Randomised, double-blind, controlled designed studies are of interest, but there are problems which remain to be solved. These include: selection of the chemopreventive agent study design chosen and especially the balance between benefits sought and secondary effects including cost-effectiveness, as certain chemicals cannot compete with other preventive or therapeutic measures.

References

Buiatti E. The role of chemoprevention in cancer control. Salud Publica Mex 39(4): 310-7. Jul-Aug 1997.