Dr. Stephen Hecht is leading a program designed to understand the carcinogenic process and develop practical methods of cancer prevention.  With a primary focus on tobacco as an etiologic agent in lung and esophageal cancer, Dr. Hecht is evaluating a number of novel chemopreventive agents.  Examples of research on plant-based chemopreventive agents include:

• Identifying chemopreventive agents that keep lung cancer from occurring in high-risk individuals, such as smokers and ex-smokers. Examples are phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) found in watercress, cabbage and related vegetables and myo-inositol also found widely in vegetables.
• Identifying and understanding the cancer preventive properties of soy products that are believed to help prevent breast and colon cancer.