Critical Dietary Factors In Cancer Chemoprevention

This book focuses on the prophylactic potential of diet-derived factors in primary prevention of cancer. It is written by a group of highly reputed experts in the area of dietary agents and cancer chemoprevention. The translational potential of dietary factors from epidemiological, laboratory and clinical studies as prevention strategy in normal and risk populations is highlighted. The work presents options of routine inclusion of specific dietary regimens for prevention as well as therapeutic strategy for better management through adjuvant interventions in cancer treatment.

Abstract: A 2-volume reference set for nutrition and cancer research scientists, including epidemiologists, clinicians, and experimentalists, summarizes and discusses a wide variety of studies concerning the role of nutrition in the etiology of various types of cancer, highlighting the potential and limitations of epidemiology, clinical, and experimental studies. The first volume addresses the affects of macronutrients in cancer etiology and treatment, covering various specific cancers (gastric; pancreas; large bowel; colon; breast; prostate), including the role of dietary fat, essential fatty acids, prostaglandins, and fiber. The role of dietary fat in cancer risk also is reviewed. The second volume covers the role of micronutrients and nonnutritive dietary factors in several types of cancer (breast; esophagus), including retinoids, selenium, and other factors. Special attention also is given to cancer chemoprevention, fermented milk products as cancer inhibitors, the role of food mutagens and carcinogens, nitrosamines in foods, and the effects of alcohol consumption. The 19 review articles comprising this 2-volume set were prepared by experts in their fields.

Abstract: A 2-volume reference set for nutrition and cancer research scientists, including epidemiologists, clinicians, and experimentalists, summarizes and discusses a wide variety of studies concerning the role of nutrition in the etiology of various types of cancer, highlighting the potential and limitations of epidemiology, clinical, and experimental studies. The first volume addresses the affects of macronutrients in cancer etiology and treatment, covering various specific cancers (gastric; pancreas; large bowel; colon; breast; prostate), including the role of dietary fat, essential fatty acids, prostaglandins, and fiber. The role of dietary fat in cancer risk also is reviewed. The second volume covers the role of micronutrients and nonnutritive dietary factors in several types of cancer (breast; esophagus), including retinoids, selenium, and other factors. Special attention also is given to cancer chemoprevention, fermented milk products as cancer inhibitors, the role of food mutagens and carcinogens, nitrosamines in foods, and the effects of alcohol consumption. The 19 review articles comprising this 2-volume set were prepared by experts in their fields.

Cancer is a major global public health problem. Among different environmental and lifestyle factors contributing to cancer risk, diet is a key one. On the one hand, obesity and increased consumption of red and processed meat, ethanol, sugar and saturated fatty acids are associated with increased cancer risk. On the other hand, consumption of micronutrients such as vitamin D, selenium, zinc, folate and bioactive compounds from fruits and vegetables is associated with decreased risk. Written by an influential, international team of experts, this book presents and discusses current topics on nutrition and cancer prevention. It covers both nutritional influences on different cancers plus specific chapters on the commonly occurring cancers. Nutritional genomics-based studies show that some dietary components modulate carcinogenesis through complex cellular and molecular mechanisms. A better understanding of these different cellular and molecular mechanisms is needed to establish efficient dietary recommendations for cancer prevention. This book will provide such an understanding, serving as an important book for all those working in nutritional health, food science and cancer research.

Abstract: A 2-volume reference set for nutrition and cancer research scientists, including epidemiologists, clinicians, and experimentalists, summarizes and discusses a wide variety of studies concerning the role of nutrition in the etiology of various types of cancer, highlighting the potential and limitations of epidemiology, clinical, and experimental studies. The first volume addresses the affects of macronutrients in cancer etiology and treatment, covering various specific cancers (gastric; pancreas; large bowel; colon; breast; prostate), including the role of dietary fat, essential fatty acids, prostaglandins, and fiber. The role of dietary fat in cancer risk also is reviewed. The second volume covers the role of micronutrients and nonnutritive dietary factors in several types of cancer (breast; esophagus), including retinoids, selenium, and other factors. Special attention also is given to cancer chemoprevention, fermented milk products as cancer inhibitors, the role of food mutagens and carcinogens, nitrosamines in foods, and the effects of alcohol consumption. The 19 review articles comprising this 2-volume set were prepared by experts in their fields.

The sixth annual research conference of the American Institute for Cancer Research was held August 31 and September 1, 1995, at the Loews L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washing ton, DC. In view of the promising leads in the diet/nutrition and cancer research field, the conference was devoted to "Dietary Phytochemicals in Cancer Prevention and Treatment. " The number of sessions was increased over that in previous conferences in order to accommodate the topics of interest. The conference overview, entitled "Plants and Cancer: Food, Fiber, and Phytochemicals," provided a framework for the following sessions. In addition, the attendees were reminded that for several decades epidemiologists have noted a lower risk of lung, esophageal, stomach, and colon cancer in populations consuming diets high in fruits and vegetables. However, isolation and ingestion of individual protective factors are not the preferred action since the complexity of the food and the matrix in which nutritional factors are embedded are important. The individual sessions then provided more insight as to why eating fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of cancer. The first of these sessions was on "Isothiocyanates" that induce both the Phase I and Phase II enzymes that increase detoxification and conjugation reactions, thus causing more rapid removal of any xenobiotic or carcinogen. Thus, less carcinogen is available for interaction with DNA or other critical cellular macromolecules.

Chemoprevention of cancer has been the focus of intensive research for more than two decades. Epidemiological evidence has shown a small, but significant association between fruit and vegetable intake and a reduction in cancer risk. Diet may account for about thirty five percent of cancer. Large claims have been made for the effectiveness of particular diets in determining one's risk of developing cancer, ranging from protection against cancer initiation, progression and metastasis. A wide array of dietary components has been demonstrated to be as effective in fighting off cancer. Towards an increased understanding of the nutrition, excercise and diet in preventing cancer or inhibiting its progression has led to the discovery and development of novel and effective drugs that regulate intracellular signaling network in the body. This information will be very useful to explore novel and highly effective chemopreventive strategies for reducing the health burden of cancer. Hippocrates, who proclaimed 25 centuries ago, 'Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food'. They estimated that one third of all cancer cases could be prevented by a healthier diet; statements which are widely accepted in the scientific literature. This book covers the current state-of-the art knowledge on the impact of nutrition and diet with nutrigenetics, nutritional epigenomics, nutritional transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics approach in cancer prevention and therapy.

Recent advances have contributed to our understanding of how a plant-based diet confers many health advantages and how substances from plants may be effective in the prevention of specific cancers. The Ninth Annual Research Conference of the American Institute for Cancer Research has focused on the latest developments in several categories of nutrients of wide contemporary interests. The conference sessions included such topics as the effects of soy, green tea, selenium, wine, grapes, and spices in cancer prevention. This conference was held in Washington, D.C. on September 2nd and 3rd, 1999, and was entitled Nutrition and Cancer Prevention: New Insights Into the Roles of Phytochemicals. The discussion program included a session that was devoted to the current status of herbal products in relation to cancer prevention, in recognition of the increasing attention that complementary and alternative medicine has been receiving from the scientific community as well as the general public. A separate presentation addressed the issue of nutritional supplements and cancer prevention.