Chemoprevention in Head & Neck Cancer-A Mirage or Miracle

Abstract

Editorial Head & neck cancers constitute the 6th most common cancer in the world more so in Asian subcontinent. Cancer is a life style disease rather than a genetic one. Only 5-10% of human cancers have genetic factors. Despite tremendous therapeutic advancements in the management of head & neck cancers in the last decade, treatment with the curative intent is not able to improve the survival patterns. A thorough understanding of the biological history of cancer at the cellular level raises a pertinent question in the minds of all concerned, whether cancer could be prevented at the level of cell growth & division. Sincere efforts are on to achieve the same. The term Chemoprevention was coined by Sporn in 1976 & has been considered a recent & novel tool to fight this dreadful disease. Chemoprevention is still under investigations and appears to be an appealing strategy. Chemo preventive agents are naturally occurring, biological or synthetic chemicals which can be utilized to arrest or suppress or to prevent the progression of carcinogenesis. These compounds may be dietary or in the form of supplements or these belong to diverse chemical classes & when used as potential chemo preventive agents not only help in prevention of development of the cancer but also help the patients with cancer in controlling the emergence of a second tumor or reccurence. Primary chemoprevention is directed at the subjects with