Role of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics in Cancer Chemoprevention

Abstract

Cancer is a multi-factorial complex genetic disorder that is characterized by multiple genetic alterations. Epigenetic and genetic alterations that drive expression of oncogenes are associated with malignant transformation of healthy cells. Nutritional deficiencies played a significant role in the progression and development of the tumor. Fruits, vegetables, cereals, nuts, green tea, and red wine showed an association with cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy. Dietary nutrients showed significant inhibition of the growth of the tumor in both in vitro and in vivo model. Dietary nutrients are involved in the repair of DNA damage caused by environmental pollutants, free radicals, radiation, and infectious agents. Dietary chemicals alter gene expression patterns that drive the progression of cancer. The dietary natural compounds are involved in the inhibition of cell proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis of cancer as well as inhibit stem cell proliferation. Genetic polymorphisms influence the alteration of the response of the host to dietary components. Therefore, it is critical to assess the role of natural dietary compounds as chemotherapeutic agents in cancer treatment. In this chapter, the role of dietary natural compounds, macronutrients, and micronutrients in cancer chemoprevention in the context of nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics is focused. Nutrigenetics defines the effect of nutrition on the genetic constituents of cancer patients, whereas nutrigenomics represents the effect of dietary nutrition on the genomics and transcriptomic level of cancer patients. Nutrigenomics and nutrigenetic studies are required to understand the mode of action of dietary natural compounds on cancer genomes and their application in chemotherapy. Research in nutritional genetics and genomics may help to address how bioactive food components regulate genetic and genomic events in cancer.