Colorectal cancer prevention: is an ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure?
Author(s): Gill S, Sinicrope FA Affiliation(s): Division of Oncology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA. Publication date & source: 2005-02, Semin Oncol., 32(1):24-34. Publication type: Review Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most common human malignancies and remains a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Colorectal carcinogenesis is a multistep process characterized by molecular and cellular alterations that result in an identifiable precursor lesion, ie, the adenomatous polyp. The transition from normal mucosa to adenoma and its subsequent progression to carcinoma are protracted events that offer opportunities for preventive interventions. Suppression or reversal of the carcinogenic process in the colorectum with nonpharmacologic or pharmacologic agents, ie, chemoprevention, is an area of considerable research interest and activity. Interest in this field derives from multiple epidemiologic studies showing that regular and continued
