Contact:

Young S. Kim, Ph.D.
Nutritional Science Research Group
DCP, NCI
Telephone: 301-496-0126
E-mail: yk47s@nih.gov

Objective:

The goal of this concept is to foster probing investigations that will define molecular targets for nutrients and connect those targets with phenotypic outcome in prostate cancer prevention.

Description:

This concept is designed to stimulate in vitro and in vivo studies that will define molecular targets in terms of genetic and epigenetic events that are influenced by specific essential and non-essential nutrients. Candidate targets for examination should not only be influenced by a nutrient but also be closely linked to a significant proportion of prostate tumors and relatively specific for prostate cancer across various genetic backgrounds. Since targets are not static but dynamic processes that must be examined over a full range of expression, investigators are encouraged to use various levels of target expression to determine the precise role of nutrients in prostate cancer prevention. Using these strategies, investigators should be able to address confounding factors that influence the overall physiological response to changes in a given molecular target. Knowledge gained should offer the exciting opportunity for explaining variation in observed responses within and across populations and for identifying who will benefit most from dietary intervention strategies.