Dietary components modify gene expression: Implications for carcinogenesis

Abstract

Mouse genetic models that probe important pathways in intestinal cell maturation, such as cell-cycle regulation, apoptosis, and, especially, lineage specific differentiation, have provided profound insight into the underlying mechanisms of intestinal tumor formation and progression. However, a wealth of epidemiological and experimental data indicates that environment, especially the diet, is a principal determinant of relative risk for tumor development. We have demonstrated that even in mouse models in which tumor incidence is strongly initiated by genetic manipulation of genes, such as Apc, p21 WAF1/cip1, and p27Kip1, a Western-style diet that is high in fat and low in calcium and vitamin ..