A research team from National University of Singapore (NUS) has discovered new findings that May Help Explain Connection Between Cancer Risk and Poor Dietas well as common diseases such as diabetes, which arise from poor diet.
The knowledge acquired from this study show promise for promoting cancer prevention strategies aimed at promoting healthy aging.
Led by teacher Ashok Venkitaraman, This groundbreaking study was conducted by scientists from the Cancer Science Institute Singapore (CSI Singapore) at NUS and the NUS Center for Cancer Research (N2CR) at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, with colleagues from the Science Agency, Technology and Research (A*STAR).
Professor Venkitaraman, director of CSI Singapore, explained in a statement: “Cancer is caused by the interaction between our genes and factors in our environment, such as diet, exercise and pollution.. It is still not very clear how these environmental factors increase the risk of cancer, but it is vital to understand the connection if we want to take preventive measures that help us stay healthy longer.”
The research team first studied patients who are at high risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer because they inherit a defective copy of the cancer gene (BRCA2) from his parents.
They showed that the cells from these patients were particularly sensitive to the effects of methylglyoxal, which is a chemical produced when our cells break down glucose to create energy.
The study showed that this chemical can cause flaws in our DNA which are early warning signs of cancer development.
The team’s research also suggested that people who do not inherit a defective copy of BRCA2 but may experience higher than normal levels of methylglyoxal, such as patients with diabetes or prediabetes, which are related to obesity or poor diet, They can accumulate similar amounts. warning signs that indicate an increased risk of developing cancer.
Professor Venkitaraman explained: “Our research suggests that patients with elevated levels of methylglyoxal may have an increased risk of cancer. Methylglyoxal can be easily detected by a blood test for HbA1C, which could be used as a marker. Additionally, elevated methylglyoxal levels can usually be controlled with medications and a good diet, creating avenues to take proactive measures against the onset of cancer.”
The first author of the study, Dr. Li Ren Kong, Lee Kuan Yew Fellow of N2CR, added: “We began the study with the aim of understanding which factors raise risk in cancer-susceptible families, but we ended up discovering a deeper mechanism that links an essential energy consumption pathway to the development of cancer. “These findings raise awareness about the impact of diet and weight control in managing cancer risks.”
Interestingly, the research team’s work also reviewed a long-standing theory about certain genes preventing cancer.
This theory, called Knudson’s two-hit paradigmwas first formulated in 1971 and was proposed to These genes must be permanently disabled in our cells before cancer can arise.
The NUS team has now discovered that methylglyoxal can temporarily inactivate these genes that prevent cancer, suggesting that repeated episodes of poor diet or uncontrolled diabetes can “build up” over time and increase the risk of cancer. These new insights are likely to influence changing the direction of future research in this area.
The team’s important findings were published in cell, one of the most influential scientific journals in biomedical research, on April 11, 2024.
Based on his new discoveries, Researchers intend to conduct more studies to understand whether metabolic disorders, such as diabetes or poor diet, affect cancer risk in Singapore and other Asian countries.
The research team also hopes to identify new mechanisms underlying the connection between metabolism, diet and cancer that they have discovered, to develop more effective approaches to prevent or delay the onset of cancer.
