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Diet-related DNA adduct formation in relation to carcinogenesis

Lieselot Y Hemeryck1, Lynn Vanhaecke2

  • 1L.Y. Hemeryck and L. Vanhaecke are with the Laboratory of Chemical Analysis, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium. lynn.vanhaecke@ugent.be.

Nutrition Reviews
|June 23, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Dietary chemicals can cause cancer by damaging DNA. This review examines foodborne carcinogens and their role in DNA adduct formation, a key step in cancer development.

Area of Science:

  • Nutrition and Cancer Research
  • Molecular Toxicology
  • Carcinogenesis Studies

Background:

  • The human diet contains natural foodborne chemicals with genotoxic and carcinogenic potential.
  • Electrophilic chemicals in food can interact with DNA, forming DNA adducts.
  • DNA adduct formation is a critical early event in chemically induced carcinogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review known or suspected dietary carcinogens.
  • To explore the role of DNA adduct formation in diet-related carcinogenesis pathways.
  • To provide insight into the mechanisms by which diet influences cancer development.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on diet-related DNA adduct formation.
  • Analysis of research on known or suspected dietary carcinogens.
  • Synthesis of findings on the link between foodborne chemicals, DNA adducts, and cancer.

Main Results:

  • Numerous foodborne chemicals possess genotoxic and carcinogenic properties.
  • DNA adduct formation is a well-established mechanism linking dietary factors to cancer initiation.
  • Specific foodstuffs contain compounds that induce DNA damage, contributing to carcinogenesis.

Conclusions:

  • Diet plays a significant role in cancer initiation and promotion.
  • Understanding DNA adduct formation is crucial for identifying diet-related cancer risks.
  • Further research into dietary carcinogens and their molecular targets is warranted.
Keywords:
DNA damagecancer riskcarcinogenesisfood chemicalsfood contaminantstoxins

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