Molecular Basis of Breast Cancer: Prevention and Treatment
http://www.100md.com
《新英格兰医药杂志》
The multifaceted problem of the prevention of breast cancer has a long history of accomplishment and frustration. For example, it is now well established that the antiestrogen agent tamoxifen can prevent breast cancer in women with a strong family history of the disease. However, concern about side effects of the drug and what is understood to be its limited ability to prevent estrogen-receptor–negative disease has strongly curbed its acceptance by the general public for chemoprevention. Alternative approaches that use antiestrogenic agents with potentially fewer side effects and aromatase inhibitors (which prevent the synthesis of estrogens) are now well under way. However, it is likely that the field of prevention of breast cancer is closer to its beginning than to its end, as the rates of incidence of this disease are still alarmingly high. Molecular Basis of Breast Cancer provides a window through which to view some future strategies in the prevention of breast cancer.
(Figure)
The Division of Two Human Breast-Cancer Cells.
By permission of David Becker/Wellcome Photo Library.
This richly illustrated book has a unique focus and original perspective. The authors strongly emphasize their own expertise in the areas of breast development, endocrine control, and the histopathology of breast cancer. From this platform, they introduce other important topics, which are basic to the understanding of the disease: epidemiology, animal models, cellular models, and common genetic alterations. With this basis in place, the final two chapters deliver an important message about new frontiers in the prevention of breast cancer.
The book does not emphasize the current successful efforts with mastectomy, oophorectomy, tamoxifen, and aromatase in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Instead, it focuses on emerging new strategies, including efforts to block environmental mutagenesis, to prevent epigenetic alterations of the mammary epithelium, to interfere with signal transduction by carcinogens, and to enhance glandular differentiation. In the process, the book reviews interesting current results on organo–sulfur compounds (e.g., S-allylcysteine, which is present in garlic and cruciferous vegetables, such as brussels sprouts), indole-3-carbinol (also present in cruciferous vegetables), phytoalexin (e.g., brassinin, also from cruciferous vegetables), triterpenoids (e.g., ursolic acid, which is present in some traditional medicinal herbs), carotenoids (e.g., beta carotene, which appears in green and yellow vegetables), vitamin E, selenium, tea and polyphenolic oxidants, and flavonoids. Also discussed are strategies to restrict dietary fat and calories, and the uses of genestein, melatonin, and eicosanoids. The broad summary of the scientific literature on this area of research strongly adds value to the book.
The final chapter presents an overall plan for the prevention of breast cancer through the induction of glandular differentiation. The protective effect of pregnancy against breast cancer in young women has led the authors to study the protective effect of human chorionic gonadotropin, and this chapter includes a rich compendium of the literature on this topic in experimental systems. These approaches may hold promise for the prevention of breast cancer.
Robert B. Dickson, Ph.D.
Georgetown University
Washington, DC 20007
dicksonr@georgetown.edu(By José Russo and Irma H.)
(Figure)
The Division of Two Human Breast-Cancer Cells.
By permission of David Becker/Wellcome Photo Library.
This richly illustrated book has a unique focus and original perspective. The authors strongly emphasize their own expertise in the areas of breast development, endocrine control, and the histopathology of breast cancer. From this platform, they introduce other important topics, which are basic to the understanding of the disease: epidemiology, animal models, cellular models, and common genetic alterations. With this basis in place, the final two chapters deliver an important message about new frontiers in the prevention of breast cancer.
The book does not emphasize the current successful efforts with mastectomy, oophorectomy, tamoxifen, and aromatase in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Instead, it focuses on emerging new strategies, including efforts to block environmental mutagenesis, to prevent epigenetic alterations of the mammary epithelium, to interfere with signal transduction by carcinogens, and to enhance glandular differentiation. In the process, the book reviews interesting current results on organo–sulfur compounds (e.g., S-allylcysteine, which is present in garlic and cruciferous vegetables, such as brussels sprouts), indole-3-carbinol (also present in cruciferous vegetables), phytoalexin (e.g., brassinin, also from cruciferous vegetables), triterpenoids (e.g., ursolic acid, which is present in some traditional medicinal herbs), carotenoids (e.g., beta carotene, which appears in green and yellow vegetables), vitamin E, selenium, tea and polyphenolic oxidants, and flavonoids. Also discussed are strategies to restrict dietary fat and calories, and the uses of genestein, melatonin, and eicosanoids. The broad summary of the scientific literature on this area of research strongly adds value to the book.
The final chapter presents an overall plan for the prevention of breast cancer through the induction of glandular differentiation. The protective effect of pregnancy against breast cancer in young women has led the authors to study the protective effect of human chorionic gonadotropin, and this chapter includes a rich compendium of the literature on this topic in experimental systems. These approaches may hold promise for the prevention of breast cancer.
Robert B. Dickson, Ph.D.
Georgetown University
Washington, DC 20007
dicksonr@georgetown.edu(By José Russo and Irma H.)