Recent results in cancer research. Fortschritte der Krebsforschung. Progrès dans les recherches sur le cancer
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Recent Results Cancer Res. · Jan 2003
ReviewChemoprevention of nonmelanoma skin cancer: experience with a polyphenol from green tea.
Nonmelanoma skin cancer is extremely common and is increasing in incidence. It would be very useful to have forms of therapy that would prevent precancerous changes from going on to form cancer, or to reverse the precancerous changes. Epidemiologic evidence in humans, in vitro studies on human cells, and clinical experiments in animals have identified polyphenol compounds found in tea to be possibly useful in reducing the incidence of various cancers, including skin cancer. To examine the potential for a polyphenol from green tea, epigallocatechin gallate, to act as a chemopreventive agent for nonmelanoma skin cancer, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II clinical trial of topical epigallocatechin gallate in the prevention of nonmelanoma skin cancer was performed.
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Recent Results Cancer Res. · Jan 2003
ReviewIs mammography screening for breast cancer really not justifiable?
The consensus that breast screening is effective for women aged 50-59 years was shattered when Gotzsche and Olsen suggested that there are no reliable data to support screening by mammography. In practice, their concerns have been difficult to address because for many studies purporting to show effectiveness, adequate data have not been published to confirm that they were valid. Further, the trials in Canada for which such data are available did not show effectiveness of screening mammography. ⋯ Whether screening will have an additional impact in the future is unclear. After reviewing the published evidence, I conclude that the additional contribution of mammography over screening by good breast physical examinations and breast self examination is to detect good prognosis breast cancers, as the benefit of screening derives from the earlier detection of relatively advanced breast cancers, providing good therapy is given. If women choose mammography screening, they should understand that their risk of dying in the next few years may not be reduced.