Cancer remains a major global health concern, with increasing rates that signal an urgent need for preventive strategies. The rising incidence across various societies is linked not only to aging populations but also to modifiable lifestyle factors, pointing to the potential for prevention. Recent advances in epigenetics and genomics have revolutionized our understanding of cancer, enabling the identification of genetic susceptibilities and paving the way for targeted prevention strategies. While half of cancer deaths are considered preventable, leveraging these technological advancements might enhance our preventive capabilities, with nutrition playing a crucial role.
This Research Topic aims to advance the exploration of novel molecular and biological mechanisms that underpin cancer development, focusing on the anti-tumor effects of nutrition and phytonutrients. With a keen eye on how dietary factors modify epigenetic markers such as DNA methylation, non-coding RNA expression, and histone modifications, the goal is to isolate new biomarkers and chemopreventive strategies. This approach incorporates a multi-disciplinary perspective, encompassing nutrigenomics, interactions with the microbiome, and the broader implications of lifestyle factors like physical activity and inflammatory diseases.
To gather further insights into the complex interplay of diet and epigenetics in cancer prevention, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
-Molecular modeling
-In vitro experiments
-In vivo studies
-Clinical and epidemiological research
-Reviews and meta-analyses
The Research Topic also encourages submissions that utilize AI-enhanced methods to discover unexpected correlations between dietary habits and health outcomes, and those that critically assess the existing literature through reviews and meta-analyses to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current landscape.
Keywords: Nutritional epigenetics, Cancer prevention, Epigenetic markers, DNA methylation, Phytonutrients, Chemopreventive strategies, Nutrigenomics, Microbiome interactions
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.
