Lung cancer prevention

The Alpha-Tocopherol Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study Group. The Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Lung Cancer Prevention Study design, methods, participant characteristics, and compliance. Ann Epidemiol. 1994 4 1-10. 

Knekt P, Jarvinen R, Teppo L, Aromaa A, Seppanen R (1999) Role of various carotenoids in lung cancer prevention. J Natl Cancer Inst 91 182-184... 

Care must be taken in handling radon, as with other radioactive materials. The main hazard is from inhalation of the element and its solid daughters which are collected on dust in the air. Good ventilation should be provided where radium, thorium, or actinium is stored to prevent build-up of the element. Radon build-up is a health consideration in uranium mines. Recently radon build-up in homes has been a concern. Many deaths from lung cancer are caused by radon exposure. In the U.S. it is recommended that remedial action be taken if the air in homes exceeds 4 pCi/1. 

Anodier problem can arise from the use of nonprescription cough medicine for self-treatment of a chronic cough. Indiscriminate use of antitussives by die general public may prevent early diagnosis and treatment of serious disorders, such as lung cancer and emphysema... 

The a-tocopherol, P-carotene (ATBC) Cancer Prevention study was a randomised-controlled trial that tested the effects of daily doses of either 50 mg (50 lU) vitamin E (all-racemic a-tocopherol acetate), or 20 mg of P-carotene, or both with that of a placebo, in a population of more than 29,000 male smokers for 5-8 years. No reduction in lung cancer or major coronary events was observed with any of the treatments. What was more startling was the unexpected increases in risk of death from lung cancer and ischemic heart disease with P-carotene supplementation (ATBC Cancer Prevention Study Group, 1994). Increases in the risk of both lung cancer and cardiovascular disease mortality were also observed in the P-carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET), which tested the effects of combined treatment with 30 mg/d P-carotene and retinyl pahnitate (25,000 lU/d) in 18,000 men and women with a history of cigarette smoking or occupational exposure to asbestos (Hennekens et al, 1996). 

One other study deserves a mention. The Cancer Prevention Study 11 was a prospective investigation using a very large cohort of over one million adult Americans, in which the effects of commercial multivitamin supplements and vitamins A, C or E on mortality were studied, during a follow-up period of seven years. The results were complex in that the use of multivitamins plus vitamins A, C and/or E significantly reduced the risk of lung cancer in both former smokers and life-long non-smokers, but vitamins A, C and E apparently increased the risk in current smokers. 

ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL BETA-CAROTENE (ATBC) CANCER PREVENTION STUDY GROUP (1994) The effect of vitamin E and beta carotene on the incidence of lung cancer and other cancers in male smokers , New Engl J Med, 330, 1029. 

It is well known that excessive intake of P-carotene may lead to carotenodermia (yellow skin), and it is undoubtedly the case that some carotenoid is directly lost via the skin or through photo-oxidation in the skin. As far as is known the carotenoids are not cytotoxic or genotoxic even at concentrations up to 10 times the normal plasma concentration which may cause carotenodermia. However, they are associated with amenorrhoea in girls who may be consuming bizarre diets and, in long-term supplementation studies, with an increase in lung cancer (The Alpha-tocopherol, Beta-carotene Cancer Prevention Study Group, 1994). 

CHUNG F L (1999) The prevention of lung cancer induced by a tobacco-specific carcinogen in rodents by green and black tea , Proc Soc Exp Biol Med, 220 (4), 244-8. 

SUGANUMA M, OKABE s, KAi Y, suEOKA N, suEOKA E and FUJiKi H (1999) Synergistic effects of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate with (-)-epicatechin, sulindac, or tamoxifen on cancer-preventive activity in human lung cancer cell line PC-9 , Cancer Res, 59, 44-7. 

The First International Symposium on Disease Prevention by IP6 and other Rice Bran Components. was conducted in Kyoto, Japan on June 8-9, 1998. Scientists from all over the globe gathered and presented their research findings on the effect of IP6 and other rice bran components on several aspects of health. The brain storming sessions of nearly 35 presentations demonstrated that IP6 is a chemopreventive agent as both a cancer inhibitor and a cancer suppressor in mammary gland, colon and lung cancer (Shamsuddin et al, 1997). 

Primary prevention trial (Alpha-Tocopherol, 20 mg/day, 5 to 8 yr P-Carotene Lung cancer -t 35... 

Primary prevention trial (Physicians Health 20 mg/alternate days, 12 yr P-Carotene Lung cancer risk 0 37... 

Etoposide causes multiple DNA double-strand breaks by inhibiting topoisomerase II. The pharmacokinetics of etoposide are described by a two-compartment model, with an a half-life of 0.5 to 1 hour and a (5 half-life of 3.4 to 8.3 hours. Approximately 30% of the dose is excreted unchanged by the kidney.16 Etoposide has shown activity in the treatment of several types of lymphoma, testicular and lung cancer, retinoblastoma, and carcinoma of unknown primary. The intravenous preparation has limited stability, so final concentrations should be 0.4 mg/mL. Intravenous administration needs to be slow to prevent hypotension. Oral bioavailability is approximately 50%, so oral dosages are approximate two times those of intravenous doses however, relatively low oral daily dosages are used for 1 to 2 weeks. Side effects include mucositis, myelosuppression, alopecia, phlebitis, hypersensitivity reactions, and secondary leukemias. 

Currently, one of the most promising agents for the prevention of lung cancer is selenium, which appeared to prevent the development of lung tumors in patients with skin cancer.15 This has not yet been shown in patients without preexisting skin cancer, although studies are underway. 

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