Control of cell proliferation in cancer prevention

Control of cell proliferation is important for cancer prevention since cell proliferation has essential roles in carcinogenesis including the process of initiation and promotion. In rodent models for carcinogenesis, especiall y those for the carcinogenesis in digestive organs such as colon, liver or oral cavity, chemopreventive agents suppress carcinogen-induced hyperprolif eration of cells in the target organs during the initiation as well as the postinitiation phases. Therefore, effective agents usually suppress cell pr oliferation and inhibit the occurrence of malignant lesions. Availability o f new biomarkers for cell proliferation, apoptosis or telomerase activity c ould be promising. By combining the use of intermediate biomarkers includin g premalignant lesions such as aberrant crypt foci in the colon or enzyme-a ltered foci in the liver and cell proliferation, short-term screening of ef fective chemopreventive agents will be possible. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V, All rights reserved.