Gut Liver.  2013 Mar;7(2):137-149.

Chemoprevention of Gastrointestinal Cancer: The Reality and the Dream

• Chun KS
• Kim EH
• Lee S
• Hahm KB

Abstract

Despite substantial progress in screening, early diagnosis, and the development of noninvasive technology, gastrointestinal (GI) cancer remains a major cause of cancer-associated mortality. Chemoprevention is thought to be a realistic approach for reducing the global burden of GI cancer, and efforts have been made to search for chemopreventive agents that suppress acid reflux, GI inflammation and the eradication of Helicobacter pylori. Thus, proton pump inhibitors, statins, monoclonal antibodies targeting tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents have been investigated for their potential to prevent GI cancer. Besides the development of these synthetic agents, a wide variety of the natural products present in a plant-based diet, which are commonly called phytoceuticals, have also sparked hope for the chemoprevention of GI cancer. To perform successful searches of chemopreventive agents for GI cancer, it is of the utmost importance to understand the factors contributing to GI carcinogenesis. Emerging evidence has highlighted the role of chronic inflammation in inducing genomic instability and telomere shortening and affecting polyamine metabolism and DNA repair, which may help in the search for new chemopreventive agents for GI cancer.

Keyword

Chemoprevention; Gastrointestinal neoplasms; Phytoceuticals; Molecular target

MeSH Terms

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Biological Agents
Chemoprevention
Diet
DNA Repair
Early Diagnosis
Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
Genomic Instability
Helicobacter pylori
Inflammation
Mass Screening
Proton Pump Inhibitors
Telomere Shortening
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Biological Agents
Proton Pump Inhibitors
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha