Natural Product Cancer Chemopreventive Agents

Abstract

At the current time, cancer claims the lives of approximately seven million people worldwide on an annual basis. In the United States alone, there are approximately one million new cases diagnosed each year, and approximately one-half million succumb to the disease. However, various cancer causes and methods of prevention are now obvious, and this knowledge should be brought to bear by members of an enlightened society. As an example, over 100,000 individuals in the United States die per year due to the manifestations of lung cancer, and a large percentage of these deaths could undoubtedly be negated by abolishing the smoking of cigarettes. In fact, the National Cancer Institute has devised a campaign in which the goal is to reduce the 1985 cancer mortality rate by 50% by the year 2000.1 The approach to achieving this goal is understandably comprehensive. In addition to primary prevention strategies (e. g., cessation of cigarette smoking, reduction of exposure to chemical carcinogens), elements such as early diagnosis, dietary modification, and cancer training programs will need to be emphasized.2