This Week In The Bmj
Chemoprevention with naturally occurring agents shows promise
BMJ 2002; 324 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.324.7339.0/e (Published 23 March 2002) Cite this as: BMJ 2002;324:e
Chemoprevention with naturally occurring and synthetic agents shows promise for preventing, arresting, and reversing cancer development. Chemoprevention agents must have low toxicities compared with chemotherapeutic agents used in cancer patients. In his clinical review, Greenwald (p 714) recommends that doctors should identify patients at high risk of cancer who might benefit from participation in chemoprevention trials. Validation of surrogate end point biomarkers is essential to reduce size and duration of chemoprevention trials. Greenwald also recommends that doctors emphasise cancer prevention in addition to cancer treatment and cure as it is a multistage disease, not a single event.
