Pretreatment Dietary Patterns, Serum Carotenoids and Tocopherols Influence Tumor Immune Response in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Higher dietary vegetable and fruit intake along with their biomarkers is inversely associated with all-cause mortality among cancer survivors

The association between dietary vegetable and fruit (VF) intake and survival outcomes among cancer survivors remains unclear, with limited research available on the association between VF-related biomarkers and mortality in this population. We hypothesized that there were inverse relationships between dietary VF intake, serum carotenoids, serum vitamin C, composite biomarker score and both all-cause and cancer-specific mortality among cancer survivors. This study analyzed cancer survivors from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999 to 2018 cycles for VF intake (n = 4326), and from NHANES III, 2003 to 2006, and 2017 to 2018 cycles for serum carotenoids (n = 2187), serum vitamin C (n = 2267), and composite biomarker score (n = 2131). Weighted multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the associations between exposures and mortality, computing hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI. Dietary VF intake was significantly associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.67-0.96) over a median follow-up of 6.9 years. For serum biomarkers, higher concentration of total carotenoids (median follow-up: 10.0 years), vitamin C (median follow-up: 9.4 years) and higher composite biomarker score (median follow-up: 10.1 years) were associated with lower risks of all-cause mortality, with HRs (95% CIs) of 0.73 (0.58-0.92), 0.73 (0.56-0.95), and 0.73 (0.57-0.95), respectively. Additionally, only vitamin C was linked to cancer-specific mortality, with HRs (95% CIs) of 0.55 (0.37-0.81). Higher VF intake and their associated biomarkers are associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality among U.S. cancer survivors.

Gut microbiome and cancer implications: Potential opportunities for fermented foods

There is a critical opportunity to improve response to immunotherapies and overall cancer survivorship via dietary interventions targeted to modify the gut microbiome, and in turn, potentially enhance anti-cancer immunity. A promising dietary intervention is fermented foods, which may alter gut microbiome composition and, in turn, improve immunity. In this article, we summarize the state of the literature pertaining to the gut microbiome and response to immunotherapy and other cancer treatments, potential clinical implications of utilizing a fermented foods dietary approach to improve cancer treatment outcomes, and existing gaps in the literature regarding the implementation of fermented food interventions among individuals with cancer or with a history of cancer. This review synthesizes a compelling rationale across different disciplines to lay a roadmap for future fermented food dietary intervention research aimed at modulating the gut microbiome to reduce cancer burden.

A New Approach to Understanding Cancer-Related Fatigue: Leveraging the 3P Model to Facilitate Risk Prediction and Clinical Care

Simple Summary

For the growing number of cancer survivors worldwide, fatigue presents a major hurdle to function and quality of life. Treatment options for cancer-related fatigue are still emerging, and our current understanding of its etiology is limited. In this paper, we describe a new application of a comprehensive model for cancer-related fatigue: the predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating (3P) factors model. We propose that the 3P model may be leveraged—particularly using metabolomics, the microbiome, and inflammation in conjunction with behavioral science—to better understand the pathophysiology of cancer-related fatigue.

Abstract

A major gap impeding development of new treatments for cancer-related fatigue is an inadequate understanding of the complex biological, clinical, demographic, and lifestyle mechanisms underlying fatigue. In this paper, we describe a new application of a comprehensive model for cancer-related fatigue: the predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating (3P) factors model. This model framework outlined herein, which incorporates the emerging field of metabolomics, may help to frame a more in-depth analysis of the etiology of cancer-related fatigue as well as a broader and more personalized set of approaches to the clinical treatment of fatigue in oncology care. Included within this review paper is an in-depth description of the proposed biological mechanisms of cancer-related fatigue, as well as a presentation of the 3P model’s application to this phenomenon. We conclude that a clinical focus on organization risk stratification and treatment around the 3P model may be warranted, and future research may benefit from expanding the 3P model to understand fatigue not only in oncology, but also across a variety of chronic conditions.

The Association between Carotenoids and Head and Neck Cancer Risk

Head and neck cancer (HNC) includes oral cavity cancer (OCC), pharyngeal cancer (PC), and laryngeal cancer (LC). It is one of the most frequent cancers in the world. Smoking and alcohol consumption are the typical well-known predictors of HNC. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an increasing etiological factor for oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). Moreover, food and nutrition play an important role in HNC etiology. According to the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, an intake of non-starchy vegetables and fruits could decrease HNC risk. The carotenoids included in vegetables and fruits are well-known antioxidants which have anti-mutagenic and immune regulatory functions. Numerous studies have shown the relationship between carotenoid intake and a lower HNC risk, but the role of carotenoids in HNC risk is not well defined. The goal of this review is to present the current literature regarding the relationship between various carotenoids and HNC risk.