Table 1.

Examples of some approved agents for cancer risk reduction based on cancer type, mechanism of action and target population.

Compound	Cancer type	Mechanism	Target population
Tamoxifen	Breast	Selective estrogen receptor modulator	Women with ductal carcinoma in situ after surgery and radiation
Tamoxifen	Breast	Selective estrogen receptor modulator	Women at high risk for breast cancer
Raloxifene	Breast	Selective estrogen receptor modulator	Postmenopausal women at high risk for invasive breast cancer
Porfimer sodium + photodynamic therapy and omeprazole	Esophageal	Oxygen free radicals kills cancer cells after exposure to light	Barrett's esophagus patients
Aspirin	Colorectal	Inhibits COX and interrupts prostaglandin production	Adults ages 50–59 with higher risk for colorectal cancer
Celecoxib	Colorectal	Same as aspirin	Individuals 18+ from familial adenomatous polyposis families
Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)	Bladder	unknown	Carcinoma in situ of the urinary bladder
Valrubicin	Bladder	Interferes with DNA synthesis	Patients refractory to BCG
Fluoruracil	Skin	Interferes with DNA synthesis	Actinic keratosis
Diclofenac sodium 3%	Skin	unknown	Actinic keratosis
5-aminolevulinic acid + photodynamic therapy	Skin	Kills precancerous cells exposed to light	Actinic keratosis
Imiquimod	Skin	Enhances immune e response	Immunocompetent patients with actinic keratosis and warts
Ingenol mebutate	Skin	Induces primary necrosis	Actinic keratosis
HPV vaccine	Cervix, anus, and others	Prevents HPV infection through immune response	Varies from country to country but generally adolescents