After a quarter of a century of rapid advances in cancer research, the focus of oncological drug development has shifted from cytotoxic chemotherapy to rationally designed agents that target specific molecules associated with malignant cells or their environment. Carcinogenic process is driven by mutation, but there are many epigenetic variables which could be the targets of early intervention before invasion and metastasis occur. Chemoprevention is the inhibition, retardation or reversal of carcinogenic processes by pharmacological or natural agents targeting these pathways in high-risk individuals. This approach was developed more than 30 years ago and its credibility was enhanced by the positive results of clinical trials involving subjects with risk of developing breast cancer and head and neck second primary tumors. So far however, not many clinical trials provided satisfying results, not only because of the lack of efficacy or side toxic effects of chemopreventive agents (promising celocoxib and rofecoxib has to be withdraw from the word market), but also the lack of precise biomarkers monitoring their effects. In spite of all these obstacles, the field of cancer chemoprevention is very active, not only because of its accelerating scientific base, but also because is vitally needed. New information from molecular studies has identified specific molecular targets for chemopreventive agents. These include regulatory molecules such as Nrf2, epidermal growth factor receptor kinases, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, components of the Janus kinase-signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway, nuclear factor-kB, and cyclin D. The development of new drugs for the control of these targets that are both safe and effective will be important for the future of cancer chemoprevention.

The presentation gives an overview of conceptual basis of chemoprevention and perspectives of its application.

• Legal notice:
  

  Copyright (c) Pielaszek Research, all rights reserved.
  The above materials, including auxiliary resources, are subject to Publisher's copyright and the Author(s) intellectual rights. Without limiting Author(s) rights under respective Copyright Transfer Agreement, no part of the above documents may be reproduced without the express written permission of Pielaszek Research, the Publisher. Express permission from the Author(s) is required to use the above materials for academic purposes, such as lectures or scientific presentations.
  In every case, proper references including Author(s) name(s) and URL of this webpage: https://science24.com/paper/6244 must be provided.

1. Polycyclic Aromatic hydrocarbons-DNA adducts: Do structure-specific methods confirm their detection in humans?
2. In vitro and in vivo modulation of proteasome 26S peptidase activity by resveratrol and pterostilbene
3. The effect of trans-resveratrol and pterostilbene on lipid peroxidation in human erythrocytes in vitro.
4. Modulation of rat liver and kidney GST activity and expression by oral administration of phenethyl isothiocyanate.
5. Modulation of cytochrome P450 isoforms by phenethyl isothiocyanate in rat liver and kidney.
6. Modulation of the activity of DNA methyltransferases by plant phenolic compounds