Elsevier

The Journal of Nutrition

Volume 133, Issue 11, November 2003, Pages 3830S-3836S
The Journal of Nutrition

Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer Prevention: The Postgenomic Era1,2

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The genomic era of human nutrition is upon us: the human genome and several plant genomes have been characterized, and genetically modified foods are now abundantly available in the marketplace. The link between diet and cancer is well established, and new genomic technologies have made possible the investigation of nutritional modulation of the carcinogenesis pathway with nutrients, micronutrients, and phytochemicals. Current study of nutrient-modulated carcinogenesis involves exploring the effect of nutrients on DNA damage and repair mechanisms; DNA methylation, which influences gene expression and cellular phenotypes; antioxidant rearranging and oxidative stress; target receptors and signal transduction pathways; cell cycle controls and check points; apoptosis; and antiangiogenic processes. With nutritional genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, scientists are able to simultaneously elucidate the biological effects of dietary constituents on cell function and global gene expression. This generation of new knowledge on nutrient-gene interactions provides the justification for a research framework for diet and cancer prevention that is focused on identifying and developing new biomarkers as well as a novel and contemporary paradigm for dietary intervention.

Key words:

cancer
prevention
genomic
nutrition
diet

Abbreviations used:

AICR
American Institute for Cancer Research
DCP
Division of Cancer Prevention
EPIC
European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition
NCI
National Cancer Institute
RAPID
Rapid Access to Preventive Intervention Development
RDA
Recommended Dietary Allowance
WCRF
World Cancer Research Fund International

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1

Presented as part of a symposium, “International Research Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Cancer,” given by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund International in Washington, D.C., July 17–18, 2003. This conference was supported by Balchem Corporation; BASF Aktiengesellschaft; California Dried Plum Board; The Campbell Soup Company; Danisco USA Inc.; Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.; IP-6 International, Inc.; Mead Johnson Nutritionals; Roche Vitamins, Inc.; Ross Products Division; Abbot Laboratories; and The Solae Company. Guest editors for this symposium were Helen A. Norman and Ritva R. Butrum.

2

Supported in part by the National Cancer Institute/UCLA Clinical Nutrition Research Unit (grant CA42710) and the American Gastroenterological Association/Fiterman Foundation Award.