This book describes the crucial molecular targets of colorectal cancer. It is considered as a serious health problem in most developed countries and is the third leading cause of cancer mortality throughout the world. Colorectal cancer affects >1 million people every year and is responsible for >.5 million cancer-related annual deaths. Generally it is a multi-step process involving three distinct stages, initiation that alters the molecular message of a normal cell, followed by promotion and progression that ultimately ends up with a phenotypically altered "transformed cell." The concept of...

Colon cancer is a major neoplastic disease affecting men and women worldwide. Rice bran is one of the richest sources of dietary fiber and contains phytonutrients, including phytic acid, known to possess various medicinal properties. Phytic acid, or inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) has been suggested to play a significant role in the inhibition of colon cancer. Thus, our attention was drawn to the possibility to utilize the local source of phytic acid in identifying non-toxic anti-cancer agents that can potentially lead to the development of better treatments for colon cancer.