Nutrition, Environment, and Genetics in Colorectal Cancer. Epigenetics and Possible Future Perspective

This review provides an overview of the relationship among nutritional, environmental, and genetic factors in the development of the chronic inflammatory state, starting from the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) up to the onset of Colorectal Cancer (CRC). Finally, it also examines potential prospects and future topics of research taking into account the relation between nutrition and epigenetic factors.

Evidence indicates that genetic and lifestyle-related factors play a crucial role in CRC etiology. Dietary intake may induce epigenetic alterations which in turn, result in carcinogenesis. Several bioactive components can modify epigenetic mechanisms, required for gene activation or silencing, thus, representing a potential way of preventing CRC. The gene-diet interaction analysis suggested some functions and pathways that may affect the CRC development. In this view, personalized nutrition, which is an approach that combines with new omics technologies, could represent a new possible key for personalized prevention and treatment in association with other cancer prevention and chemotherapeutic therapies.