Phytosterols (PS) or plant sterols are structurally similar to cholesterol. The most common PS
are β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol. Epidemiologic and experimental studies
suggest that dietary PS may offer protection from the most common cancers in Western
societies, such as colon, breast and prostate cancer. This review summarizes the findings of
these studies and the possible mechanisms by which PS offer this protection. These include
the effect of PS on membrane structure and function of tumor and host tissue, signal …