Drug-Nutrient Interactions in Patients With Cancer

Abstract

Nutrition has a major role in both cancer prevention and its therapy. In fact, dietary choices and physical activity are the two major modifiable determinants of cancer risk. The evidence suggests that one-third of the more than 500,000 cancer deaths in the United States can be attributed to these two factors each year (1). The recent observation of improved 5-yr survival rates for all cancers is encouraging because much of the research into early cancer detection and treatment appears to be invaluable (2). Unfortunately, the increase in 5-yr survival over time (1950 to 1990) had little relationship to changes in the mortality from cancer. There are several reasons that the 5-yr survival rates have increased. These include improvements in the treatment of established cancer, earlier identification of patients in their disease course, and early effective treatment regimens. Naturally, if more effective treatments of existing disease and more cancers are found early and treated, then mortality rates should decrease. The major explanation for improved 5-yr survival rates without improved mortality is simply changes in the diagnosis of cancer, including detection of subclinical cancers. However, epidemiological studies of populations whose diets are high in vegetables and fruits and low in animal fat, meat, and total calories have shown reduced risks for some of the most common types of cancer (3).