these molecular investigations shed light on the large human trials that have implicated antioxidants in cancer. It is possible that the supplements did not triggercancer but rather accelerated the progression of existing undiagnosed cancers, making laterdiscovery of the disease likely. In other words, it could be that while antioxidants might prevent DNA damage-and thus impede tumor initiation -once a tumor is established, antioxidants might facilitate the malignant behavior of cancer cells, Schafer says