Colorectal cancer: surgical prophylaxis and chemoprevention.

Attempts at improving outcome from colorectal cancer have recently focused on prevention. This paper describes how both surgical and chemotherapeutic intervention can cause a fall in cell proliferation, polyp regression and a decline in rectal cancer risk in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. Other patients at high risk of colorectal cancer, or of cancers in other sites, may also have their risks modified by pharmacological intervention.