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Published on: August 25, 2021

Molecular targets for nutritional preemption of cancer

Cindy D Davis1, John A Milner

  • 1Nutritional Science Research Group, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD 20892, USA. davisci@mail.nih.gov

Current Cancer Drug Targets
|August 19, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Dietary components can modify key cancer pathways, influencing carcinogen metabolism, DNA repair, and cell proliferation. This research explores how bioactive food constituents impact cancer prevention and therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Malignant cells exhibit altered signaling pathways crucial for proliferation, apoptosis evasion, angiogenesis, invasion, and migration.
  • Dietary factors and bioactive food constituents show potential in reducing cancer risk and influencing tumor progression.
  • Deregulation of major signaling pathways in cancer presents targets for prevention, and these pathways are known to be modulated by diet.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of diet's role in modifying critical processes in carcinogenesis.
  • To highlight the significance of dietary components in cancer prevention and therapy.
  • To present research on the impact of food patterns, specific foods, and bioactive components on cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on diet and cancer signaling pathways.
  • Compilation of articles from researchers investigating dietary components in cancer.
  • Focus on mechanisms including carcinogen metabolism, DNA repair, cell proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, immunity, differentiation, angiogenesis, hormonal regulation, and cellular energetics.

Main Results:

  • Dietary components modulate carcinogen metabolism and DNA repair mechanisms.
  • Bioactive food constituents influence cell proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis.
  • Diet impacts inflammation, immunity, differentiation, hormonal balance, and cellular energy production relevant to cancer.

Conclusions:

  • Diet plays a significant role in modifying cancer development and progression.
  • Bioactive food components offer potential as adjuncts in cancer prevention and treatment strategies.
  • Further research into specific dietary patterns and components is crucial for understanding their therapeutic capabilities.

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