PROTEASE INHIBITORS IN CHEMOPREVENTION OF CANCER - AN OVERVIEW

In the search for chemopreventive agents for cancer many natural produ cts have been identified. Among them extensive experimental studies ha ve been made on protease inhibitors which not only occur naturally in many plant products, but have also been synthesized in the laboratory. Many of these studies reveal the fact that protease inhibitors are ab le to prevent carcinogenesis and tumour promotion. A review of the rep orts available to date suggests that protease inhibitors are potential chemopreventive agents although their biological role and mechanism o f action are not very clear.