Weird letter on cancer carcinogenesis

Also from this week's C&EN, a really odd letter on cancer and chemistry (emphasis mine):

...This letter is to point out that chemistry plays the central role in the ­etiology and prevention of the most ­prevalent types of human cancer. The chemical agents responsible for the initiation of cancer are the estrogens. They become carcinogenic when their unbalanced metabolism in our bodies generates excessive amounts of estrogen-3,4-quinones. 

When that happens, the estrogen-3,4-quinones react with DNA, forming depurinating estrogen-DNA adducts that generate the mutations leading to the initiation of cancer. We have demonstrated this for five different types of human cancer: breast, ovarian, and thyroid for women and prostate and non-Hodgkin lymphoma for men. We also think that other prevalent types of cancer are initiated by the same mechanism. This mechanism can be prevented by use of natural compounds such as resveratrol and N-acetylcysteine to block formation of estrogen-DNA ­adducts. 

When we began conducting cancer research in the 1970s, chemical carcinogenesis played a relevant role in cancer research, supported by the National Cancer Institute. Unfortunately, appreciation of the role of chemistry in carcinogenesis was lost, and NCI dissolved the chemical carcinogenesis branch. 

Meanwhile, we discovered that the potent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogens formed predominantly depurinating PAH-DNA adducts that generate cancer-initiating mutations (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 10422), and then we found that the depurinating estrogen-DNA adducts are also responsible for cancer-initiating mutations. The discovery of the importance of these depurinating DNA adducts has been neglected for the past 20 years. The final tragedy of this neglect is that chemistry also provides the pathway to cancer prevention. By using natural compounds such as resveratrol and N-acetylcysteine to prevent the formation of estrogen-DNA adducts, the transformation of cells to malignancy is also prevented. 

With all of the great advances chemistry has provided for humankind, cancer research is one more area in which chemistry can enhance life and remove misery—if this is recognized by scientists. 

Ercole Cavalieri
Eleanor Rogan
Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer & Allied Diseases
Omaha

This seems like something with a real backstory. I don't know much about carcinogenesis and prevention of such, but it sure seems like to me that this resveratrol/N-acetylcysteine stuff surely must have been proven correct or falsified in the literature by now. Anyone have any understanding of what's going on here?

UPDATE: Oh, man, this is no good. Anon504p nails it, with a link to these authors selling something? that "Keeps Your Body in Balance" and "Blocks DNA Damage." $69/bottle on Amazon.

"Prevennia® is based on the pioneering work of Dr. Ercole Cavalieri and Dr. Eleanor Rogan who led the team that identified the initial step in the mutation – initiation – promoter - tumor formation, namely the formation of a reactive estrogen metabolite."

Ugh.

UPDATE 2: An anonymous commenter writes in to give a wise word of caution:

I have some thoughts on Anon@5:04PM's point. 

- It's not unheard of for snake oil hucksters to cite published, peer-reviewed research in their sales material.
- Neither Cavalieri nor Rogan are listed anywhere in the executive team; the founder is someone else.
- Although Google reveals that the web site has a bio for Cavalieri, Rogan and another academic scientist, the end of the bio document is a disclaimer which suggests that none of the three had anything to do with the bio. 

It seems possible (to me, at least) that neither Cavalieri nor Rogan have any connection to Prevennia.

I think that's a fair point, so I think I am going to contact Drs. Cavalieri and Rogan and see if that is or is not the case.