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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 7, 2014; 20(41): 15060-15069
Published online Nov 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i41.15060
Published online Nov 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i41.15060
Primary prevention of colorectal cancer: Myth or reality?
Marcela Crosara Teixeira, Maria Ignez Braghiroli, Jorge Sabbaga, Paulo M Hoff, Division of Medical Oncology, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, Hospital Sírio Libanês, São Paulo, SP CEP 01246-000, Brazil
Author contributions: Crosara Teixeira M, Braghiroli MI and Sabbaga J performed the literature search and wrote the paper; Hoff PM reviewed the article and provided critical appraisal.
Correspondence to: Marcela Crosara Teixeira, MD, Division of Medical Oncology, Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, Hospital Sírio Libanês, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo 251, São Paulo, SP CEP 01246-000, Brazil. marcela.teixeira@icesp.org.br
Telephone: +55-11-38932686 Fax: +55-11-30831746
Received: February 24, 2014
Revised: June 21, 2014
Accepted: July 24, 2014
Published online: November 7, 2014
Revised: June 21, 2014
Accepted: July 24, 2014
Published online: November 7, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: There is an interesting potential for primary prevention of colorectal cancer focusing on modifying environmental, lifestyle risk factors, and using chemopreventive drugs. Consistent evidence supports some of these approaches, but others are controversial, although quite accepted by the general population. Since the primary prevention is an important complement to colorectal cancer screening, adding to reduce its incidence, we review the data supporting some of these widespread recommendations on physical activity, diet and drugs for colorectal cancer prevention.