Dietary Phytochemical Index and the Risk of Breast Cancer: A Case Control Study in a Population of Iranian Women

In this study we assessed the dietary phytochemical index in relation to the risk of breast cancer in women.This case-control study was conducted on 100 incident breast cancer cases and 175 healthy controls. Dataregarding socio-demographic factors, medical history, medications, and anthropometric measurements werecollected. Dietary data were obtained using a validated food frequency questionnaire and a energy-adjusteddietary phytochemical index (PI) was calculated. The odds ratios of breast cancer were assessed across energyadjustedPI quartile categories. The mean age of participants was 46.2±8.9 and 45.9±9.4 years in cases andcontrols, respectively. The mean PI across quartile categories was 13.9±2.6, 21.1±1.8, 26.7±2.1, 41.6±10.2 in thefirst, second, third and fourth quartiles, respectively. After adjustment for all potential confounders, the riskof breast cancer in the forth quartile of dietary PI was significantly decreased (OR=0.08, 95%CI=0.01-0.84).Higher intake of phytochemical-rich foods is associated with lower risk of breast cancer.     

Meat Consumption and Cancer Risk: a Case-control Study in Uruguay

Introduction: There is strong evidence that high meat intake increases the risk of colorectal cancer. However,for other cancer sites there is currently less convincing evidence. Methods: To further explore associations betweenmeat intake and cancer risk we conducted a multisite case-control study of 11 cancer sites in Uruguay between1996 and 2004, including 3,539 cancer cases and 2,032 hospital controls. We used unconditional logistic regressionto estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of cancer associated with meat intake. Results: In themultivariable model there was a significant increase in the odds of cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx(OR=3.65, 95% CI: 2.21-6.01), esophagus (OR=3.36, 95% CI: 1.97-5.72), larynx (OR=2.91, 95% CI: 1.80-4.68),stomach (OR=2.19, 95% CI: 1.31-3.65), colorectum (OR=3.83, 95% CI: 2.37-6.20), lung (OR=2.17, 95% CI:1.52-3.10), breast (OR=1.97, 95% CI: 1.04-3.75), prostate (OR=1.87, 95% CI: 1.08-3.21), bladder (OR=2.11,95% CI: 1.20-3.72) and kidney (OR=2.72, 95% CI: 1.22-6.07) with high intake of red meat and similar findingswere found for total meat. In addition, intake of beef and lamb were also associated with increased risk ofseveral cancer sites. High intake of processed meat was associated with increased risk of cancers of the esophagus(OR=1.63, 95% CI: 1.08-2.47), larynx (OR=1.84, 95% CI: 1.21-2.78), stomach (OR=1.62, 95% CI: 1.07-2.44),colorectum (OR=2.15, 95% CI: 1.49-3.11), lung (OR=1.70, 95% CI: 1.28-2.25) and breast (OR=1.53, 95% CI:1.01-2.30). Conclusion: Our results confirm earlier findings of increased risk of digestive tract cancers, butsuggest that meat consumption also increases the risk of several other cancers.     

Nutrient Patterns and Risk of Breast Cancer in Uruguay

Objectives. To explore the role of nutrient patterns in the etiology of breast cancer (BC) among Uruguayanwomen. Methods. A principal component analysis was conducted. The study included 442 newly diagnosedcases of BC and 442 hospitalized controls. Results. Two dietary patterns derived from factor analysis and werelabeled as high-meat and antioxidants patterns. Whereas the high-meat pattern was directly associated withBC risk (OR for the highest versus the lowest quartile = 3.50, 95 % CI 1.94-6.30, p-value for trend <0.0001),the antioxidants pattern displayed a protective effect (OR=0.44, 95 % CI 0.27-0.74). Its negative associationwas stronger for postmenopausal than for premenopausal women (OR=0.63, 95% CI 0.51-0.79 vs. OR=0.89,95% CI 0.50-1.56, respectively). Both strata were heterogeneous (p=0.004). The high-meat pattern was moreassociated with BC risk among patients with family history of BC compared with participants without it, butresults did not differ by histology. In contrast, the antioxidants pattern was more associated with non-ductalcancers (OR=0.50 [95 % CI 0.35-0.69]) than with ductal cancers (OR=0.72, 95 % CI 0.58-0.88, heterogeneityp-value=0.03). Conclusions. Results support an association between the high-meat and antioxidant dietarypatterns and BC risk. Furthermore, findings suggest that gene-environmental interactions may be importantin BC etiology.     

Soybeans,Soy Foods,Isoflavones and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: a Review of Experimental and Epidemiological Data

Incidence rates of colorectal cancer are relatively low in Asian populations, in which soy foods are commonlyconsumed. Soybeans and soy foods are an almost exclusive source of isoflavone intake. In in vitro studies, isoflavoneshave been shown to have various anticarcinogenic properties such as inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphorylation,induction of apoptosis, antiangiogenesis, and inhibition of DNA topoisomerase. Thus the protective role of soy foodsand isoflavones in the etiology of colorectal cancer is a matter of interest. We therefore reviewed animal andepidemiological studies of colorectal cancer in relation to soybeans, soy foods, and isoflavones. Animal studies fairlyconsistently showed that soyfoods or isoflavones inhibited the formation of aberrant crypt foci, but did not clearlydemonstrate an inhibitory effect of soy foods and isoflavones on the development of chemically-induced colorectalcancer. Several case-control studies have suggested that soy food consumption may confer a reduced risk of colorectalcancer although the findings are rather inconsistent. Most of the previous studies, especially in Japan, ascertainedonly the frequency of consuming selected soy foods, and thus were defective as regards the measurement of the totalconsumption of soy foods. Further epidemiological studies are needed to clarify the role for soy foods in colorectalcarcinogenesis.     

Diet and Colorectal Cancer Risk in Asia - a Systematic Review

Diet is one of the major factors that can exert a majorly influence on colorectal cancer risk. This systematicreview aimed to find correlations between various diet types, food or nutrients and colorectal cancer risk amongAsian populations. Search limitations include dAsian populations residing in Asia, being published from theyear 2008 till present, and written in the English language. A total of 16 articles were included in this systematicreview. We found that red meats, processed meats, preserved foods, saturated/animal fats, cholesterol, highsugar foods, spicy foods, tubers or refined carbohydrates have been found by most studies to have a positiveassociation with colorectal cancer risk. Inversely, calcium/dairy foods, vitamin D, general vegetable/fruit/fiberconsumption, cruciferous vegetables, soy bean/soy products, selenium, vitamins C,E and B12, lycophene, alphacarotene,beta-carotene, folic acid and many other vitamins and minerals play a protective role against colorectalcancer risk. Associations of fish and seafood consumption with colorectal cancer risk are still inconclusive dueto many varying findings, and require further more detailed studies to pinpoint the actual correlation. There iseither a positive or no association for total meat consumption or white meats, however their influence is not asstrong as with red and processed meats.     

Glutathione-S-transferase (GSTM1, GSTT1) Null Phenotypes and Risk of Lung Cancer in a Korean Population

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate any association of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes withthe risk of lung cancer in a South Korean population. Methods: We conducted a large-scale, population-basedcase-control study including 3,933 lung cancer cases and 1,699 controls. Genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 weredetermined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: In logistic regression analysis adjusted for age andsmoking, we did not find any association between GSTM1 or GSTT1 and LC risk in women. However, in men,the GSTM1 and GSTTI null genotypes were borderline associated with risk (OR=1.18, 95% CI=0.99-1.41 forGSTM1, OR=1.18, 95% CI=0.99-1.41 for GSTT1), and combined GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes conferredan increased risk for LC in men (OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.08–1.78). The OR for the GSTT1 null genotype was greaterin subjects aged 55 years old or younger (OR=1.45, 95% CI=1.09-1.92 for men; OR=1.36, 95% CI=0.97–1.90for women), than in those over age 55 (OR=1.03, 95% CI=0.83-1.27 for men; OR=0.86, 95% CI=0.66–1.12 forwomen) in both genders (p for interaction <0.05). Conclusions: In the Korean population, the GSTM1 andGSTT1 null genotypes are risk factors for LC in men; the GSTT1 null genotype has a more prominent effecton LC risk in younger people (age 55 years and under) than in older individuals.     

Nutritional Epidemiology of Cancer in Korea: Recent Accomplishments and Future Directions

Because diet is closely related to cancer incidence and mortality, recent studies in cancer epidemiology have focused on dietary factors. The results of studies on nutritional cancer epidemiology in Korea are discussed in this research paper. Most studies have used a case-control design focused on breast or gastric cancer patients. Antioxidants were associated with a reduced risk of gastric cancer in most studies, but this association was not observed for breast cancer. Most diets consumed by Koreans that included fruits and vegetables were associated with reduced cancer risk, but high concentrations of salt in food were positively associated with gastric cancer risk. Genetic susceptibility was considered in several studies, and food contaminants were assessed to estimate life-time cancer risk. Recent studies have made advances in understanding the relationship between diet and cancer among Korean populations. However, because the history of nutritional cancer epidemiology in Korea is relatively short, the subjects covered and methodology of the research have been limited. A cohort design with a large sample size and appropriate methods to assess subjects’ usual intake may be needed to determine the true association between diet and cancer in the future.     

Impact of Perceived Cancer Risk on the Cancer Screening Rate in the General Korean Population: Results from the Korean Health Panel Survey Data

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the perception of cancer risk and likelihood of havingundergone cancer screening. Materials and Methods: We used data from the Korean Health Panel Survey fromDecember 2011 onward. Of 3,390 patients who visited a hospital during the previous year, we included datafrom 2,466 individuals; 924 samples were excluded due to missing data. Logistic regression analysis and the chisquare test were used to investigate the association between perceived cancer risk and the likelihood of havingundergone cancer screening. Results: For patients who perceived their risk of developing cancer during thenext 10 years to be 30-40%, the odds ratio was increased 1.65 fold (95%CI: 1.223, 2.234) compared with thosewho perceived their risk to be almost zero. Although the difference was not statistically significant, perceivingcancer risk as either extremely low or extremely high appears to be associated with a reduced likelihood ofhaving undergone cancer screening, resulting in an inverted U-shaped relationship. Conclusions: Physicians andresearchers should be aware of the importance of the affective component of risk perception. Policies addressingthe influence of cancer risk perception should be implemented in South Korea and worldwide.     

Adherence to the MIND Diet and Risk of Breast Cancer: A Case-control Study

IntroductionNo data are available on the association between adherence to the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet and breast cancer.Materials and MethodsThis population-based case-control study was conducted among women aged ≥ 30 years, who were residing in Isfahan, Iran. The study included 350 patients with newly diagnosed stage I to IV breast cancer, for whom in situ or invasive status of breast cancer was confirmed by physical examination, mammography, and pathologic verification. Controls were 700 age-matched apparently healthy individuals who were randomly selected from the general population. Dietary data were collected using a validated 106-item Willett-format, semi-quantitative dish-based food frequency questionnaire.ResultsAfter adjustment for age and energy intake, women in the top tertile of the MIND diet score had 60% lower odds of breast cancer than women in the bottom tertile (odds ratio [OR], 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-0.55). In the fully adjusted model including body mass index, those with the greatest MIND diet scores had 50% lower chance of breast cancer (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.34-0.72) than those with the lowest adherence to the MIND diet. Postmenopausal women with the greatest adherence to the MIND diet were less likely to have breast cancer than those in the bottom tertile (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.30-0.66). In addition, we found a significant inverse association between adherence to the MIND diet and odds of breast cancer among normal-weight women (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.25-0.60).ConclusionAdherence to the MIND diet was associated with a reduced chance of breast cancer in this case-control study.     

A Case-Control Study of Gastric Cancer and Diet in Northern Kyushu, Japan

A case-control study of gastric cancer was done in a rural area of northern Kyushu, Japan, in relation to dietary habits especially focusing on the relationship with the consumption of broiled fish. The study was based upon 139 cases of newly diagnosed gastric cancer at a single institution, 2,574- hospital controls and 278 controls sampled randomly from the residents of the study area (with sex and year of birth matched). No association was observed between the consumption of broiled fish and gastric cancer risk whether three types of broiled fish (raw fish, dried fish and salted fish) were analyzed separately or as a single category. However, consistently in the comparisons with both sets of controls, the risk of gastric cancer was inversely related with the consumption of fruits and positively associated with cigarette smoking. A decreased risk of gastric cancer was also noted among those with high consumption of green tea (10 or more cups per day).     

A Comparison of Risk and Protective Factors for Colorectal Cancer in the Diet of New Zealand Maori and non-Maori

By international standards New Zealand (population 3.8 x 106) has a high rate of colorectal cancer, with ‍approximately 2000 new cases occurring and approximately 1000 deaths each year. But within the New Zealand ‍population, a lower incidence of colorectal cancer is reported for Maori than for non-Maori New Zealanders (22.2 ‍and 43.7 per 100,000 respectively). Information from the New Zealand National Nutrition Survey 1997 shows that ‍in comparison to non-Maori, Maori eat more in total, eat more red meat, drink more alcohol, consume more saturated ‍fat, have a higher prevalence of obesity and have a lower proportion of individuals consuming a given level of fruit ‍and vegetables per day. All these factors would be expected to increase colorectal cancer risk. Puha (sow thistle; ‍Sonchus sp.) and watercress (Nasturtium officinale, N.aquaticum) are foods with plausible cancer protective properties ‍which are components of the Maori, but not the non-Maori diet.     

Obesity,Diet and Physical Inactivity and Risk of Breast Cancer in Thai Women

To evaluate the relationship between obesity, diet, physical activity and breast cancer in Thai women, weconducted a case control study with 1,130 cases and 1,142 controls. Informed consent was obtained from allparticipants and a structured questionnaire was performed by trained interviewers to collect information ondemographic and anthropometric data, reproductive and medical history, residential history, physical activityand occupation as well as dietary habits. A significant positive association with an increased risk of breast cancerwas observed in women body mass index (BMI) of ≥25 mg/m2 (OR=1.33, 95%CI 1.07-1.65), the risk beinghigher in postmenopausal women (OR=1.67, 95%CI 1.24-2.25). In addition, underweight BMI at ages 10 and 20years showed an inverse association in all women (OR=0.70, 95%CI 0.56-0.88 and OR=0.74, 95%CI 0.59-0.93,respectively) and in those with a premenopausal status (OR=0.69, 95%CI 0.51-0.93 and OR=0.76, 95%CI 0.56-0.99, respectively). Regular exercise was associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer (OR=0.78, 95%CI0.68-0.98). Interestingly, analysis by type of activity revealed significant protective effects for women who reportedthe highest levels of walking for shopping (OR=0.58, 95%CI 0.38-0.88). High consumption of vegetables andfruit were associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer, while high consumption of animal fat showed anincreased risk in postmenopausal women. In conclusion, our results indicate that obesity and high consumptionof animal fat are associated with breast cancer risk, particularly in postmenopausal women, while recreationalphysical activity has protective effects. It seems that primary prevention of breast cancer should be promotedin an integrated manner. Effective strategies need to be identified to engage women in healthy lifestyles.     

Fast Foods,Sweets and Beverage Consumption and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Case-Control Study in Jordan

Background: The effects of consuming fast foods, sweets and beverages on the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) are unclear. The aim of this case-control study was to assess possible associations between the consumption of different fast foods, sweets and beverages and CRC risk in a Jordanian population. Methods: Two hundred and twenty diagnosed CRC cases and 281 controls were enrolled. Diet history was obtained using a validated quantitative questionnaire. Results: Consumption of some types of fast food, and particularly falafel, was associated with an increased risk of developing CRC. Elevated risk was found for potato and corn chips with an AOR of 4.36 (95%CI: 1.24-15.28) for daily consumption and 3.33 (95%CI: 1.00-11.11) for ≥5 servings/week. Consuming 1-2 or >5 servings per week of fried potatoes or 2-3 servings per week of chicken in sandwiches also increased the risk while exposure to fresh tomato juice and hot pepper sauce on a monthly basis appeared to exert a protective effect. Conclusions: Consumption of fried fast food items was significantly linked with an increased risk of developing CRC in Jordan.     

Diet After Diagnosis and the Risk of Prostate Cancer Progression, Recurrence, and Death (United States)

Objectives We examined post-diagnostic diet and risk of cancer progression in a cohort of men with prostate cancer from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Methods We observed 392 progression outcomes among 1,202 men diagnosed with incident localized/regional prostate cancer between 1986 and 1996. Men completed prospective dietary surveys before and after diagnosis and were followed through 2000. We examined post-diagnostic consumption of red meat, grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and fish as predictors of progression using Cox proportional hazard regression models adjusted for total energy, age, clinical factors, and pre-diagnostic diet. Results Men in the highest versus lowest quartile of post-diagnostic fish consumption had a multivariate hazard ratio (HR) of progression of 0.73 (95% CI 0.52–1.02); the comparable HR for tomato sauce was 0.56 (95% CI 0.38–0.82). We observed inverse linear relationships for fish and tomato sauce and risk of progression (HR = 0.83, p-value = 0.006 and HR = 0.80, p-value = 0.04 for a two serving/week increase of fish and tomato sauce, respectively). Milk and fresh tomato consumption were associated with small elevations in risk. Conclusions These data suggest that diet after diagnosis may influence the clinical course of prostate cancer, and fish and tomato sauce may offer some protection against disease progression. Funding: University of California San Francisco Prostate Cancer SPORE P50 CA89520, Prostate Cancer Foundation, National Institute of Health grants CA 55075 and HL 35464 and Cancer Epidemiology Training Grant 5T 32 CA 09001-26 from the National Cancer Institute     

Cancer screening in Korea, 2010: results from the Korean National Cancer Screening Survey

To investigate the participation rates in gastric, liver, colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer screening in Korea, including both organised and opportunistic programmes, a nationwide interview survey using multi-stage random sampling was conducted in 2010. A total of 4,056 cancer-free men aged over 40 years and women aged 30 years participated. Lifetime screening rates ranged from 54.2% (liver cancer) to 79.5% (breast cancer) and rates of screening in accordance with guidelines ranged from 22.9% (liver cancer) to 65.1% (gastric cancer). Upper endoscopy was the preferred method for gastric cancer, whereas the faecal occult blood test was conducted most often for colorectal cancer. The main reason stated for non attendance was 'no symptoms'. To increase attendance at cancer-screening programmes, efforts to increase education and accessibility of screening programmes are necessary.     

Egg Consumption and the Risk of Cancer: a Multisite Case-Control Study in Uruguay

Background: Previous studies have suggested that egg consumption may increase the risk of colorectal cancerand some other cancers. However, the evidence is still limited. To further explore the association between eggintake and cancer risk we conducted a case-control study of 11 cancer sites in Uruguay between 1996 and 2004,including 3,539 cancer cases and 2,032 hospital controls. Results: In the multivariable model with adjustmentfor age, sex (when applicable), residence, education, income, interviewer, smoking, alcohol intake, BMI, intakeof fruits and vegetables, grains, dairy products, total meat and other fatty foods, mate tea and energy, there wasa significant increase in the odds of cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx (OR=2.02, 95% CI: 1.19-3.44), upperaerodigestive tract (OR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.17-2.37), colorectum (OR=1.64, 95% CI: 1.02-2.63), lung (OR=1.59,95% CI: 1.10-2.29), breast (OR=2.86, 95% CI: 1.66-4.92), prostate (OR=1.89, 95% CI: 1.15-3.10), bladder(OR=2.23, 95% CI: 1.30-3.83) and all cancer sites combined (OR=1.71, 95% CI: 1.35-2.17) for a high vs. low eggintake. Conclusions: We found an association between higher intake of eggs and increased risk of several cancers.Further prospective studies of these associations are warranted.     

Family History of Cancer and Head and Neck Cancer Risk in a Chinese Population

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether family history of cancer is associated with head and neck cancer risk in a Chinese population. Materials and Methods: This case-control study included 921 cases and 806 controls. Recruitment was from December 2010 to January 2015 in eight centers in East Asia. Controls were matched to cases with reference to sex, 5-year age group, ethnicity, and residence area at each of the centers. Results: We observed an increased risk of head and neck cancer due to first degree family history of head and neck cancer, but after adjustment for tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking and betel quid chewing the association was no longer apparent. The adjusted OR were 1.10 (95% CI=0.80-1.50) for family history of tobacco-related cancer and 0.96 (95%CI=0.75-1.24) for family history of any cancer with adjustment for tobacco, betel quid and alcohol habits. The ORs for having a first-degree relative with HNC were higher in all tobacco/ alcohol subgroups. Conclusions: We did not observe a strong association between family history of head and neck cancer and head and neck cancer risk after taking into account lifestyle factors. Our study suggests that an increased risk due to family history of head and neck cancer may be due to shared risk factors. Further studies may be needed to assess the lifestyle factors of the relatives.     

Ecologic Study of Lung Cancer Risk Factors in the U.S. and Japan, with Special Reference to Smoking and Diet

Lung cancer mortality rates among United States and Japanese males were compared and related to smoking and dietary data. Mortality rates increased from 1950 to 1985 in both countries, but the absolute values are consistently lower in Japan (38.2 deaths/100,000 in 1985) than in the U.S. (72.2/100,000). The proportion of smokers is higher in Japan than in the U.S. since 1955. Japanese males start smoking considerably later than U.S. males, but smoke a higher quantity of cigarettes per day. Available information on inhalation practices and yield and type of cigarettes smoked showed no differences among the two countries large enough to account for the differences in mortality rates. Further data in this regard should he obtained. Dietary data show that fat consumption (as percentage of calories) is consistently higher in the U.S. than in Japan from 1950 (40% vs. 7.9%) through 1985 (43.5% vs. 24.5%). A linear relationship is observed between lung cancer mortality and fat intake. Our data support the hypothesis that dietary habits may modulate the carcinogenic effects of tobacco smoking.