Dr. Wattenberg is a co-founder of the field of chemoprevention of cancer. There is almost uniform agreement that the optimal way of dealing with the cancer problem is by prevention. Chemoprevention entails the use of one or several compounds to prevent this disease. In general, cancer has been found to be the result of a cumulative series of attacks on vulnerable cells. Thus, there is the possibility of intervening at successive stages to prevent its evolution.
Chemopreventive agents come from a number of sources.
Some are synthetic, others as constituents of the diet, in particular vegetables and fruits. Very striking examples of protective effects of consumption of vegetables and fruits is in preventing the occurrence of cancers of the lung and gastrointestinal tract. Dr. Wattenberg has made major contributions to identifying and characterizing the specific chemicals in vegetables and fruits that exert chemopreventive effects. Since chemoprevention is utilized for individuals who do not have manifestations of the disease and are going about their daily lives, it is critical that the chemopreventive agents do not have harmful side effects. The identification of compounds that prevent cancer without producing toxicity is a formidable one.