Nutrient-Gene Interactions in Cancer PDF

Preface

In the era of ancient Greek medicine, based on the theory of the four equal and universal elements posited by Empedocles, Hippocrates postulated that disease is caused by isonomia , an imbalance in the four body humors: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. Later on, Galen introduced four human basic temperaments that reflect the humors and influence the susceptibility to disease: the sanguine, buoyant type; the phlegmatic, sluggish type; the melancholic, dejected type; and the choleric, quick-tempered type. Thereafter, both Western and Oriental medicines have tried to categorize humans into different types for the sake of treatment efficacy and have believed that these different types affect physiology, pathology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of diseases. These old classifications were based on physical shapes or tempers (phenotypic expression), whereas modern medicine classifies humans according to their genotypes, which may be predictive for the risk of certain diseases as well as helpful for the design of better strategies for disease prevention and treatment.

Early research regarding the relationship between diet and cancer was based on the idea that cancer is caused by an overexposure to a specific diet. With a more clear understanding gained in recent years that cancer is a genetic disease, as shown by the molecular aberrations occurring in cancer cells, most of the studies have focused more specifically on the effect of particular nutrients on the expression of genes related to carcinogenesis. However, the presence of inherited mutations or defective genes is not sufficient to determine the phenotype, and finding aberrant genes does not guarantee, by itself, the onset of clinically manifested disease. Most recently, the complete mapping of the human genome and sophisticated molecular technologies have accelerated research on the relationship between nutrients and genes. Consequently, compelling evidence from epidemiological and experimental observations has suggested that the risk of certain cancers is different from one genotype of critical genes to another and has supported the idea that the interaction between nutrients and genes is one of the most important mechanisms by which nutrients modulate carcinogenesis.

This book specifically focuses on the interrelationships between nutrients and genes in cancer, which, we believe, highlights that nutrients have not just one simple function in cancer development but, more notably, that nutrition is one of the most important factors, which serves as a modulator for cancer growth through the interaction with specific genes. A deeper understanding of such a relationship also has contributed to the detection of a new strategy for cancer chemoprevention. In this book we have endeavored to provide a comprehensive and systematic review of the latest information regarding the role of nutrients and genes interactions on cancer development, with the aim of also providing specific examples of well-known interactions between nutrients and genes with a defined pathogenetic role in clinical manifestations of different cancer diseases.

The first part of the book includes chapters on the basic elements of biology and pathobiology of gene–nutrient interactions with a focus on mechanisms and biomarkers. The following chapters describe in detail specific gene–nutrient interactions that are considered, in the current knowledge, the most striking examples of the interaction between genetics, epigenetics, and nutrition in many different types of cancer. Each chapter also describes the currently available methodologies to evaluate each nutrient and gene interaction. This section is designed both for basicscience investigators as well as for clinicians who manage cancer patients, with the intent of presenting useful tools to address the clinical implications of the gene–nutrient interaction field in medical nutrition and oncology. In contemporary medicine, oncologists have an increasing appreciation for this promising subject, as do many other specialists and scientists encountering the emerging field of nutrition and genetics interactions. The last chapter of the book emphasizes the directions research is taking and the implications of fostering further investigation. Included will be new perspectives in this rapidly growing area of medical science.

This book specifically focuses on the interrelationships between nutrients and genes in cancer, which, we believe, highlights that nutrients have not just one simple function in cancer development but, more notably, that nutrition is one of the most important factors, which serves as a modulator for cancer growth through the interaction with specific genes. A deeper understanding of such a relationship also has contributed to the detection of a new strategy for cancer chemoprevention. In this book we have endeavored to provide a comprehensive and systematic review of the latest information regarding the role of nutrients and genes interactions on cancer development, with the aim of also providing specific examples of well-known interactions between nutrients and genes with a defined pathogenetic role in clinical manifestations of different cancer diseases.

The first part of the book includes chapters on the basic elements of biology and pathobiology of gene–nutrient interactions with a focus on mechanisms and biomarkers. The following chapters describe in detail specific gene–nutrient interactions that are considered, in the current knowledge, the most striking examples of the interaction between genetics, epigenetics, and nutrition in many different types of cancer. Each chapter also describes the currently available methodologies to evaluate each nutrient and gene interaction. This section is designed both for basicscience investigators as well as for clinicians who manage cancer patients, with the intent of presenting useful tools to address the clinical implications of the gene–nutrient interaction field in medical nutrition and oncology. In contemporary medicine, oncologists have an increasing appreciation for this promising subject, as do many other specialists and scientists encountering the emerging field of nutrition and genetics interactions. The last chapter of the book emphasizes the directions research is taking and the implications of fostering further investigation. Included will be new perspectives in this rapidly growing area of medical science.

We are deeply grateful to each one of our esteemed authors, who are among the leading authorities in the field. We know that this project required more time and effort than anticipated, and we are truly thankful to them for their dedication and their remarkable contributions. We would also like to thank Taylor & Francis for providing an arena to discuss this topic. Appreciation goes also to our admired readers for their interest, present and future, in this unique and fascinating field. With this book we aim to give them a perspective on what is presently known, as well as the challenge of what is as yet unknown. Indeed, the attempt at improving our knowledge is a precious part of the marvelous adventure of the mind which is seeking the simplicity and beauty of the truth through the little secrets of science.