Ananticarcinogen (also known as acarcinopreventive agent) is a substance that counteracts the effects of acarcinogen or inhibits the development ofcancer.[1] Anticarcinogens are different fromanticarcinoma agents (also known as anticancer or anti-neoplastic agents) in that anticarcinoma agents are used to selectively destroy or inhibit cancer cellsafter cancer has developed. Interest in anticarcinogens is motivated primarily by the principle that it is preferable to prevent disease (preventive medicine) than to have to treat it (rescue medicine).[medical citation needed]
In theory, anticarcinogens may act via different mechanisms including enhancement of natural defences against cancer, deactivation ofcarcinogens, and blocking the mechanisms by which carcinogens act (such asfree radical damage toDNA). Confirmation that a substance possesses anticarcinogenic activity requires extensivein vitro,in vivo, andclinical investigation. Health claims for anticarcinogens are regulated by various national and international organizations like theUS Food and Drug Administration (FDA) andEuropean Food Safety Authority (EFSA).[medical citation needed]
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