Surgical and medical measures in prevention of large bowel cancer.

Traditional methods for prevention of large bowel cancer rely on surveillance of patients with known precursors of bowel cancer, namely ulcerative colitis and those genetically linked polyposis syndromes that have malignant potential. Identification of heritable bowel cancer families and solitary polyp--cancer families provide additional populations that merit intensive scrutiny. Persuasive, if circumstantial, evidence suggests that maintaining patients free of large bowel polyps reduces the risk of developing large bowel cancer. Prospects for prevention of large bowel cancer are extended by recognition that a diet low in fat may reduce the risk of large bowel cancer. Furthermore, there is considerable evidence in animals that a variety of antioxidants limit large bowel carcinogenesis and preliminary evidence in man that these agents may control large bowel neoplasia.