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A Perspective on Nutrition and Cancer

Amandio Vieira

Research into nutrition and cancer typically involves either a study of dietary factors in the context of cancer prevention, or dietary changes to moderate the effects of conventional cancer therapy. Cancer involves genetic and epigenetic changes that influence gene expression programs controlling cell growth, death, differentiation. Some of the changes leading to genomic instability can be influenced by diet and other environmental factors. In this context, a genoprotective diet may be considered as one that is low in harmful dietary factors and sufficient in protective dietary factors. Harmful factors, e.g. carcinogens, are ones that can promote cancer. Possible beneficial factors include some vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. The B-vitamin folate is an example of a possible protective factor; among other functions, it is involved in dTMP (DNA) biosynthesis and has a role in epigenetic control, e.g. [1-4].

The role of nutrition in the etiology of cancers is complex and not well understood; and some of the related studies are difficult to interpret. This complexity arises from different aspects of these studies: (a) Cancer is a complex group of diseases; and each one often involves a chronic, multistep pathological process characterized
by dysregulation of cell growth and death, loss of differentiation, inflammation, etc. (b) Human diet is typically also complex; it is difficult to isolate the roles of specific dietary factors-typically found in most diets-that can promote or protect against the pathological process of carcinogenesis. (c) Another category of problems lies
in the application of laboratory studies and animal model studies to carcinogenesis and human cancer prevention. Often isolated compounds are tested at relative high concentrations, i.e., outside of the food context. Moreover, there may be important differences in the way a model organism reacts to, and processes, a dietary compound in relation to human metabolism.

At a basic level, cancer development and progression typically involves one or more of the following factors: (i) damage to DNA (mutations). Reactive chemical species such as ROS can cause oxidative damage to DNA, e.g. [5,6]; and this may be exacerbated by deficiency of antioxidants. Other genetic damage may be caused
by deficiencies in nutrients such as folate (see above) or in the cells’ genetic repair systems. (ii) High-level expression of cancerpromoting genes (oncogenes) or reduced expression of protective, tumour-suppressor genes. Such expression may be modified by various dietary factors, e.g. retinoids (from vitamin A) and calciferols (vitamin D). (iii) Suppressed immunity may also contribute to the progression of cancers, and many nutrient deficiencies (e.g. zinc and vitamin A) can compromise immunity.
As an example of gene-diet interactions, one can consider genetically-determined DNA repair efficiency interacting with two general classes of dietary parameters: insufficient intake of a protective factor such as folate or vitamin E, and excessive intake of harmful factors in food such as heterocyclic aromatic amines and other possible carcinogens (Figure 1). An individual with efficient repair systems is likely able to better tolerate potentially damaging nutrient deficiencies, or a relatively higher level of carcinogen exposure. It has been estimated that a majority of adulthood cancers may be caused by environmental factors [7]. (Some early-onset or childhood cancers are likely much less influenced by harmful environmental factors.) There are both dietary (nutrient deficiencies and food carcinogens) and non-dietary (e.g. smoking and radiation) components to such environmental factors. At a global level, major causes of cancer include smoking, UV radiation, obesity, alcohol, infections. Putative dietary carcinogens typically rank lower (except alcohol), but their exact contribution is not well known. Possible food carcinogens may arise from (i) industrial chemicals used to treat foods, e.g., pesticides, (ii) environmental contaminants from air, soil, etc., (iii) food processing, e.g. colours, flavours, and other additives
and (iv) high temperature cooking and exposure to combustion products during cooking. Red meats, rich in heme, have been associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer [8].

Heme iron can participate in reactions that lead to oxidative damage [9]. High fat and high energy diets can increase risk of some types of cancer, e.g. [10,11]. Interestingly, a recent animal model study involving high fat diet has suggested that surgical removal of some fat deposits can decrease the development of UV-induced skin cancers [12]. Other studies have suggested benefits for bariatric surgery in some people against cancer incidence or progression, e.g. [13]. In terms of protective factors, fruits, vegetables, teas, are commonly recommended based on a large number of populationlevel studies. Plant foods have many potential beneficial factors:
dietary fibre, vitamins, and other photochemicals, as well as a relatively low caloric density. Many phytochemicals exhibit antioxidant activities in vitro, but the potential relevance of many of these activities in the body (in vivo) is not well established. Photochemicals can influence many cellular functions and thereby