Nutritional Impacts on Human Tumor Development and Immune System

Nutrition encompasses a crucial influence on health and diseases, notably within the domain of cancer, where it intersects significantly with metabolic pathways, immune responses, and tumorigenesis. The dynamic association between dietary components and cancer has concentrated academic attention on how nutrition affects tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis, with a particular emphasis on the immune system. For instance, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can regulate the proliferation and apoptosis of T cells, thereby combating colorectal cancer. Vitamins B6 and D3, within tumor cells, can enhance antitumor activity by increasing endoplasmic reticulum stress, leading to immunogenic cell death in cancer cells.

Studies have progressively demonstrated that specific foods and nutrients can either mitigate or accelerate cancer risk through various metabolic, cellular, and immunological processes. For example, the balanced intake of arginine and glutamine is crucial to the immune system. Low concentrations of arginine may reduce the infiltration of lymphocytes within the tumor microenvironment. However, excessive arginine levels ultimately result in the sustained production of nitric oxide and polyamines, which contribute to the proliferation and development of tumor cells. Moreover, zinc deficiency impairs the development and function of immune cells, and zinc intake is inversely associated with the risk of gastric, esophageal, and colorectal cancers. Despite the current progress, a deeper understanding of these relationships is essential to develop focused nutritional interventions for cancer prevention and treatment.

This Research Topic aims to consolidate contemporary research that unveils the complex interactions between nutrition, tumorigenesis, and the immune system. The goal is to advance knowledge on how nutrition influences cancer dynamics, particularly through its impact on immune responses, and to promote the development of targeted dietary strategies that enhance cancer prevention, treatment, and patient quality of life. Through an interdisciplinary approach, this collection will explore innovative dietary interventions based on the latest scientific findings, aiming to contribute to more effective and personalized cancer management protocols with a significant focus on immunology.

This Research Topic covers a wide array of relevant aspects, including:
o The role of macronutrients and micronutrients in tumor initiation, progression, and their interaction with immune cells.
o Epigenetic modifications induced by nutritional factors and their impact on tumor development and immune function.
o Clinical trials that evaluate the efficacy of dietary interventions in modulating immune responses in clinical oncology settings.
o Nutritional biomarkers for early detection, prognosis of cancer, and immune system status.
o The impact of the gut microbiome on nutrient metabolism, immune function, and cancer.
o Personalized nutrition strategies for cancer prevention and treatment.
o The role of nutrition in cancer survivorship, immune function, and life quality.
o Integrative approaches combining bioinformatics, single-cell analysis, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and to understand nutritional impact on cancer.
o Leveraging computational models to forecast nutrition's effects on cancer development and immune responses.
o Systematic reviews of dietary interventions on cancer management.

This topic seeks to provide a thorough exploration into the influential sphere of nutrition in oncology and immune system, aspiring to establish foundational groundwork for future innovations.

Keywords: Tumorigenesis, Nutrition, Cancer Dietary Interventions, immune system

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.