[Chemoprevention of prostate cancer]

Abstract

In the western world, prostate cancer is a most common malignant neoplasm in human males. In recent years, its incidence has been rising dramatically in China. Prevention of this disease would have a positive impact on the disease-related cost, morbidity, and mortality for a large portion of the population. Cancer chemoprevention is defined as the use of natural, synthetic or biologic chemical agents to reverse, suppress, or prevent carcinogenic progression to invasive cancer. This article reviews the progress in chemoprevention of prostate cancer.