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Mechanisms of Disease: prostate cancer—a model for cancer chemoprevention in clinical practice

Abstract

Prostate cancer is a significant cause of cancer death, making it an attractive target for chemoprevention. Epidemiologic studies and the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial indicate that chemoprevention is possible. Strategies for prevention include hormonal manipulation and limiting accumulation of genetic damage with anti-inflammatory agents and/or dietary antioxidants. Development of an effective chemoprevention strategy for prostate cancer is evolving and will likely serve as a model for chemoprevention of other adult malignancies.

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Figure 1: Prostaglandin synthesis and possible implications for prostate carcinogenesis.

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Correspondence to Edith D Canby-Hagino.

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Glossary

5α-REDUCTASE DEFICIENCY

In males, this results in ambiguous genitalia, pseudovaginal perineoscrotal hypospadias, fully differentiated (although sometimes undescended) testes, normal Wolffian ductal systems, and an underdeveloped prostate

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Canby-Hagino, E., Thompson, I. Mechanisms of Disease: prostate cancer—a model for cancer chemoprevention in clinical practice. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2, 255–261 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncponc0172

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