PDF Version for Printing
The articles referenced in this Highlights section will be available online in HTML and PDF formats to all interested users at no charge until the next issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention is published. Click on the article title to view the complete article.
View the Table of Contents for the May 2007 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Page 900
Page 929
Page 956
Page 962
Reports from several studies have suggested that carotenoids, and in particular lycopene, could be prostate cancer preventive agents. This has stimulated extensive laboratory and clinical research, as well as much commercial and public enthusiasm. However, the epidemiological evidence remains inconclusive. Peters et al. investigated the association between pre-diagnostic serum carotenoids and risk of prostate cancer, in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. In this large prospective study, high serum β-carotene concentrations were associated with increased risk for aggressive, clinically relevant prostate cancer. Lycopene and other carotenoids were unrelated to prostate cancer. Consistent with other recent publications, these results suggest that lycopene or tomato-based regimens will not be effective for prostate cancer prevention.
Niederdeppe et al. Page 998 Fatalistic beliefs about cancer prevention are prevalent in the US adult population. Niederdeppe et al. examined socio-demographic correlates of these beliefs and their associations with regular exercise, smoking, and fruit and vegetable consumption with a national sample of over 6,000 American adults. The authors found that fatalistic beliefs were stronger among less-educated Americans but, when controlling for socioeconomic status (and with one exception), were either weaker or equivalent among African-Americans and Hispanics compared to Whites. Americans who hold fatalistic beliefs about cancer prevention may be at greater risk of cancer because they are less likely to engage in various prevention behaviors including regular exercise, not smoking, and fruit and vegetable consumption. These results should impact future cancer communication and education efforts.
Page 998