NUTRIENT ANTIOXIDANTS IN THE PATHOGENESIS AND PREVENTION OF CERVICAL DYSPLASIAS AND CANCER

The role of nutritional factors in biochemical interactions that are p art of an oncogenic process or inhibit free radical proliferation have attracted considerable interest in relation to molecular mechanism(s) and the natural history of human cancer. Epidemiologic and experiment al studies have drawn attention to the association between dietary mic ronutrient deficiencies and the incidence of neoplastic and malignant lesions. In the last two decades, the role(s) of retinoids, carotenoid s, tocopherols and water-soluble antioxidant vitamins, and allegations of anti-tumor properties in the daily dietary consumption of fresh fr uits and green leafy vegetables, have captured the attention of an inc reasingly sensitive diet-and health care-conscious public, the biochem ical community, and industrial food producers. Moreover, recent epidem iologic and compelling advances in molecular biology have linked the p resence of restricted human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes to cervical carcinoma and precursor lesions. In the present report, we identify an d review measurable effects of dietary deficiencies of selected antiox idant micronutrients (i.e., beta-carotene and vitamins A, C, and E) an d their associations with known cervix cancer risk factors in the path ogenesis and potential prevention of cervix dysplasias, presumed to be the precursor lesions of cervix cancer. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.