In cancer prevention and therapy

The major pigment in Curcuma species (Zingiberaceae family) is the yellow phenolic diarylheptanoid curcumin (Jl). Curcumin and its analogs have potent antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects, cytotoxicity against tumor cells, and antitumor-promoting activity (96). The biologic effects and targets of curcumin, as well as its possible roles in cancer prevention and therapy, have been reviewed recently (97, 98). 

Chemoprevention is an emerging and promising approaeh to control human cancer. Several natnral products have been proven to have potentials as anticancer agents. Resveratrol is one such compound. Recently, increasing interest has focused on examining the effect of resveratrol in breast cancer prevention and treatment. The present review summarizes the recent studies on the role of resveratrol in cancer prevention and therapy, especially in human breast cancer, that provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of resveratrol. The estrogenic activity of resveratrol, as well as its in vitro and in vivo antiproliferative and chemoprotective activities, will be discussed here. 

It has been reported that resveratrol presented other benefits in other organs. These pharmacological and therapeutic properties strengthen the concept that resveratrol supplements may be considered in future strategies of using natural products in cancer prevention and therapy. However, appropriate long-term clinical trials will have to be conducted before any final conclusions can be made about the potential benefit of resveratrol as a chemopreventive agent. 

Vitamin D Analogs in Cancer Prevention and Therapy, ed. J. Reichrath, M. Friedrich and W. Tilgen, in Recent Results in Cancer Research, Vol. 164, Springer Verlag, 2003... 

Sarkar FH, Adsule S, Padhye S, Kulkami S, Li Y (2006) The role of genistein and synthetic derivatives of isoflavone in cancer prevention and therapy. Mini Rev Med Chem 6 401 07 Whitsett TG Jr, Lamartiniere CA (2006) Genistein and resveratrol mammary cancer che-moprevention and mechanisms of action in the rat. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 6 1699-1706... 

Mimeault M, Batra SK (2011) Potential applications of curcumin and its novel synthetic analogs and nanotechnology-based formulations in cancer prevention and therapy. Chin Med 6 31... 

The use of synthetic retinoids in cancer prevention and therapy for both cutaneous and internal tumors is potentially the most significant clinical use of these drugs, requiring further investigation and clarification. Based on the results of preliminary studies, it appears that chronic maintenance therapy is needed for successful chemoprevention of cancer with retinoids. One must now conclude that the future of the retinoids is most promising, particularly with the continuing development of new synthetic compounds that may improve still further their efficacy or tolerability. 

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