Authors
Mukhtar H. Agarwal R.
Institution
Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western
Reserve University, OH 44106, USA.
Title
Skin cancer chemoprevention. [Review] [68 refs]
Source
Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceeding. 1(2):209-14, 1996
Apr.
Abstract
Chemoprevention of cancer is a means of cancer control in which the
occurrence of this disease, as a consequence of exposure to carcinogenic
agents, can be entirely prevented, slowed, or reversed by the administration
of one or several naturally occurring or synthetic agents. Thus, the
chemoprevention of cancer differs from therapy in that the goal of prevention
is to lower the rate of cancer incidence. Such chemopreventive agents are
also known as anticarcinogens, and an ideal agent should have (i) little or
no untoward or toxic effects, (ii) high efficacy against multiple sites,
(iii) capability of oral administration, (iv) a known mechanism of action,
(v) low cost, and (vi) human acceptance. With regard to naturally occurring
agents, fruits, vegetables, and common beverages, as well as several herbs
and plants, have been identified as rich sources of cancer chemopreventive
agents. While a wide range of laboratory studies has identified many
compounds, including several polyphenols, as cancer chemopreventive agents,
in this article our main emphasis is on the cancer chemopreventive potential
of a polyphenolic fraction isolated from green tea and silymarin, a flavonoid
present in artichoke, against different stages of mouse skin
multistage carcinogenesis. We also highlight studies related to retinoid
effects on prevention of human skin cancers. [References: 68]