Cancer prevention
Primary prevention of cancer in people without an established diagnosis. Proven approaches: HPV and HBV vaccination, smoking and alcohol cessation, healthy body weight, physical activity, UV protection, age-appropriate screening. Effectiveness of nutraceuticals (antioxidants, selenium, curcumin) for general cancer prevention is not confirmed.
4 drugs
Also known as: Primary cancer prevention
Marketing claims without evidence base
The drug is promoted for these uses outside international guidelines. Each entry below is analyzed against AEMPS, FDA, EMA, Cochrane and major RCTs.
- DResveratrolNot recommended · Dietary supplements, plant polyphenols (local classification)Resveratrol is a polyphenol found in grape skins, red wine and some berries. Supplements promote it for cancer prevention and "healthy longevity". There is no convincing evidence that resveratrol lowers cancer risk: the evidence base for this use is missing, and the data come mostly from lab models and small studies. What does cut cancer risk: not smoking, limiting alcohol, keeping a healthy weight, staying active, protecting skin from the sun and taking part in screening programmes.
- FAscorbic acidNot recommended · Vitamins. AntioxidantsHigh-dose vitamin C is not supported by international guidelines as cancer prevention or treatment. The mega-dose concept originates in Linus Pauling's 1970s publications and has not been confirmed in large subsequent RCTs. NCI PDQ summary states clearly: RCTs have not confirmed an effect of high-dose ascorbic acid on cancer outcomes. Intravenous vitamin C drips at doses of 25–75 g offered in private clinics as «cancer treatment» or «prevention» fall outside NCCN, ESMO, and ASCO recommendations. Large meta-analyses (Zhang 2013, Luo 2014) showed no effect on all-cause or cardiovascular mortality. In patients with established cancer, high-dose vitamin C should be discussed with the treating oncologist because it may reduce the efficacy of some cytotoxic agents and radiotherapy.
- FCurcumin (Curcuma longa extract)Not recommended · Herbal anti-inflammatory agentsCurcumin for cancer prevention in people without an established diagnosis is not mentioned in international guidelines. Laboratory antitumour data have not translated to clinical practice – large positive RCTs on cancer incidence or mortality are absent. In patients with active cancer on chemotherapy or targeted therapy, curcumin use should be discussed with the treating oncologist due to potential drug interactions.
- FSelenium (oral salts and chelates: selenomethionine, sodium selenite, selenium yeast)Not recommended · Mineral supplements. Trace elementsThe large SELECT RCT (35,533 men, 7 years of follow-up, JAMA 2009) showed no protective effect of selenium 200 µg and vitamin E 400 IU daily on prostate or other cancers. In a subset of patients, prostate cancer risk increased in the selenium arm. Cochrane 2018 confirmed no effect of selenium on cancer prevention or all-cause mortality in non-selenium-deficient people. Selenium for cancer prevention is not supported by international guidelines.
How to read tiers A–F
Evidence tiers belong to the drug-indication pair, not to the drug as a whole: the same substance can be A for one condition and F for another.
- AStrong evidence – first or second line in international guidelines
- BRecommended in selected cases
- CStudy data contradict each other
- DBenefit not proven, no documented harm
- FDocumented harm, or risk without benefit