Nutrition, Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics

Abstract

Epidemiological data and meta-analysis have confirmed that there exists a strong association between nutrition and disease risk. In the context of cancer, it has been demonstrated that unhealthy diets increase the risk of disease. On the other hand, major dietary interventions and lifestyle changes have been demonstrated to provide therapeutic efficacy in cancer patients. Genetic mechanisms have been reported to be associated with cancer development induced by environmental and nutritional factors. Genetics plays an important role in the designing of personalized drugs and diets. Epigenetics has also been demonstrated to be affected by nutrition, leading to increased risk of disease when unhealthy diets are consumed, while healthy nutrition is able to provide both prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy.