Science Letters

Role of vitamin E in prevention of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a review

Kanwal Mazhar 1, Yang Yang 1, Shaokang Wang 1, Fawad ur Rehman 2, Guiju Sun 1*

1 Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Southeast

University, Nanjing 210009, China

2 State key lab of bioelctronics, Southeast University, Sipailou 2, Nanjing 210009, P.R. China

Abstract

Vitamin E (Vit E) has enormous potential for cancer growth inhibition and cancer prevention. It has been studied widely for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous activity. The aim of this review is to provide a summary of the research so far in regards to Vit E and its role in the prevention of human esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC), which is among the most malignant types of cancers. Its prevalence is high in China and poses a serious threat to the health of the residents. Therefore, finding new strategies to prevent and lessen the risk of ESCC and comprehensive understanding of carcinogenesis is essential. This review will provide the brief guidelines in understanding of Vit E in the prevention of ESCC. The data suggest that the combination of tocopherols like ?-tocopherol-rich mixture of tocopherols would be highly effective to use in the future for the prevention of cancers.

Keywords: Antioxidant, cancer prevention, esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC), vitamin E.

Received April 07, 2015 Revised May 29, 2015 Published online first June 15, 2015

*Corresponding author: Prof. Guiju Sun Email: gjsun@seu.edu.cn Tel: +86 25 83272567 Fax: +86 25 83272567