As data is accumulated life-style characteristics are shown to be major determinates of cancer risk in humans. Of these, diet is the most ubiquitous. Food constituents have been identified which can cause or enhance the likelihood of cancer and, conversely, protect against it. Such data encourage the hope that a full understanding of the impact of dietary constituents on carcinogenesis will lead to important means of cancer control.
This international symposium coincided with an increasing awareness of the major impact diet can have on the occurrence of cancer, and at a time when the evaluation of existing data was critical for developing approaches to a complicated and important area of cancer research. The participating scientists represented a variety of disciplines ranging from epidemiology to molecular biology and the papers cover a diversity of subjects to provide a valuable state-of-the-art review of this topic. The presentations give rise to a sense of cautious optimism that future productive research on the relationship between diet, nutrition and cancer is feasible, and could result in the development of useful strategies for cancer prevention.