Title:
Prioritizing Molecular Targets for Cancer Prevention with Nutritional Combinations (R01)

Contact:
Cindy D. Davis, Ph.D
. Division of Cancer Prevention
National Cancer Institute
6130 Executive Blvd., EPN Room 3159, MSC 7328
Bethesda, MD 20892-7328
Rockville, MD 20852 (for express/courier service)
Telephone: 301-594-9692
FAX: 301-480-3925
E-mail: davisci@mail.nih.gov

Objective of Project:

The National Cancer Institute invites new R01 applications which promote research that will define mechanistically the dynamic interrelationship existing among bioactive food components, food combinations and cancer. Although much evidence exists that dietary components are linked to cancer prevention, interactions between dietary bioactive compounds and/or food combinations, as well as the mechanisms for the cancer protective effects of these compounds remain largely unexplored. This program announcement solicits applications proposing research projects that apply new high-throughput genomic, epigenomic, proteomic and metabolomic technologies to explore and validate molecular targets of dietary components. The resulting information will help define which foods or food components should be considered in isolation or in combination when developing dietary strategies to reduce cancer risk and/or modify tumor behavior.

Description of Project:

Dietary habits are recognized as an important modifiable environmental factor influencing cancer risk and tumor behavior. However, the merit of combining foods for maximum efficacy for cancer prevention remains to be determined. A better understanding of the bioactive components present in food as well as the mechanism(s) of action of these dietary components towards cancer prevention is needed before this can be achieved. A multitude of sites within the cancer process may be influenced by bioactive food components. Relevant aspects include carcinogen metabolism, DNA repair, cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and angiogenesis. The response is complicated, since dietary components can affect multiple steps in the cancer process simultaneously. Thus prioritizing which processes are most involved in bringing about a change in tumor incidence and/or tumor behavior is essential. Furthermore, since many of these processes are likely influenced by several food components, it is necessary to obtain a better understanding of physiologically relevant synergistic and antagonistic interactions.