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 urrent
research into the cancer-fighting properties of phytochemicals
in common foods will lead to major changes in the treatment and
prevention of cancer, Dr. Vay Lang W. Go of the UCLA Center for
Human Nutrition told reporters. He spoke at the 9th Annual Conference
of the American Institute for Cancer Research held in Washington,
DC.
 "Early
in the next century," Dr. Go said, "we will move beyond
dietary guidelines to dietary prescriptions for individuals.
We will be able to tell an individual which plant compounds,
consumed on a regular basis, will keep his or her cancer genes
from doing their thing."
The AICR conference
focused on the results of laboratory research into phyto-chemicals,
or cancer-fighting compounds found in soy, tea, garlic, grapes,
wine and spices, as well as similar compounds in the trace mineral
selenium. The last day of the conference was devoted to devising
strategy for the clinical trials that will follow the current
phase of lab testing.
Dr. Go said
that deciphering phyto-chemicals is a momentous task, comparable
to the isolation and analysis of vitamins that occurred during
the first half of this century. He added that successful completion
would require major contributions from several sectors of society.
"Government
is already focusing on how to conduct the broad clinical trials
that come next," Dr. Go said. "Since these trials will
involve large numbers of people and take years to complete, government
agencies and federal funding will have to play a role."
AICR estimates
that at least 30 to 40 percent of all cancers are associated
with diet. Yet, currently, only 1 to 3 percent of all government
funding for cancer research is devoted to the cancer-nutrition
link.
Referring
to reports of foods being genetically altered to yield unnaturally
high amounts of phytochemicals, Dr. Go also advised industry
not to exploit the promise of these cancer-fighting compounds.
"As we
speak, transgenic vegetables are ripening in California with
three times the phytochemicals of ordinary vegetables. It is
frightening to think industry is getting ready to prescribe and
administer medicine before the medical profession has determined
the efficacy and the proper dosage. Industry should consider
waiting for scientific consensus before it accelerates the marketing
specific phytochemicals," Dr. Go said.
He also warned
the public to resist the temptation to load up on phytochemicals
until science determines how they work. "These are powerful
substances and they act differently under different circumstances,
at different sites and at different concentrations," Dr.
Go said. "Overdosing on supplements or even eating exorbitant
amounts of individual foods containing phytochemicals is foolish,
even dangerous behavior."
Dr. Go advised
people concerned about cancer risk to follow AICR dietary guidelines.
Choose diet rich in plant-based foods, and eat plenty of vegetables
and fruit, he said.
"The
time is coming when we will be able to examine a person's genetic
makeup and pinpoint his or her predisposition for cancers. We
will then be able to prescribe the right combination of phytochemicals
to prevent cancer genes from activating and thus reduce risk
of the disease to almost zero," Dr. Go said.
That is a
level of capacity science will achieve, he concluded. But it's
wise to remember we're not there yet. 
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