Interaction of genetic factors with nutrition in cancer

In the exploration of the role of dietary factors in carcinogenesis, both essential nutrients and other compounds in foods with biological activity may be important. Further, endogenous factors including genetic one may interact with the nutritional compounds to impact the development of cancer. These interactions may operate in two directions. Genes can affect the action of the compounds of dietary origin (e.g., increasing or decreasing the amount needed for good nutritional status), and these compounds can affect the action of genes (e.g., increasing or decreasing expression). Genetic factors may affect the metabolism of carcinogens and procarcinogens found in food, and food components can interact with genetic factors to play a role in prevention of carcinogenesis. Methodologic issues regarding the study of diet, genetic variation, and cancer are reviewed and examples are provided of mechanisms for potential nutrition-gene interactions in cancer.