About this Research Topic
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) methods are widely used, especially by individuals with serious conditions such as cancer. CAM encompasses a wide range of different modalities including nutrition, which is certainly known to play a key role in prevention in many diseases. In particular, the role of different dietary approaches, nutrient intake, consumption of phytochemicals, and use of dietary supplements have all been examined in regard to their protective effects against many different forms of cancer. However, the benefits of nutritional approaches during cancer treatment are less well established. Dietary approaches and components could potentially improve-or worsen- the course of therapy, affecting survival, efficacy of treatment, and/or quality of life.
There is a number of ways in which nutritional approaches might affect cancer patients. The metabolic needs of cancer cells are different from those of normal cells, and as such, they could be vulnerable to nutritional disruption. Nutritional factors could alter the immune system and affect inflammatory pathways that modulate cancer progression. Dietary components could influence patient symptoms resulting either from disease or from treatment and could offer new mechanisms in cancer treatment. Knowledge of possible benefits and risks is especially important considering the many cancer patients who do self-treat with special diets, foods, or dietary supplements.
This Research Topic highlights CAM nutritional approaches in the treatment of cancer. Authors are invited to submit original research and review articles on the topics listed below, with an emphasis on relevance to human cancer, possible mechanisms of action, and connection to existing literature.
• Micronutrient intake, blood levels, and/or supplementation in cancer progression and survival
• Functional foods and dietary supplements with anti-cancer activity
• Dietary components and immune system enhancement in cancer patients
• Role of free radicals and dietary antioxidants in cancer progression
• Dietary components affecting metastatic processes
• Micronutrients and nonvitamin, nonmineral dietary supplements (NVNM) as adjuncts in cancer chemotherapy
• Dietary approaches and components and quality of life in cancer patients
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
