Dietary Factors and the Development Of Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is one of the most common malignancies in Western countries: both men and women face a lifetime risk of nearly 6% for the development of invasive colorectal cancer. Epidemiologic studies have shown that several dietary factors contribute to the development of Colon Cancer,

• high fat,
  
• red-meat ,
  
• obesity
  
• lack of vegetables
  
• lack of fiber in the diet.
  

In the great majority of cases, colorectal cancer arises from an initially benign overgrowth of colonic lining, a so-called adenomatous polyp which acquires with time harmful mutations and transforms into a dangerous colonic carcinoma. Observational studies suggest that the adenoma-to-carcinoma sequence takes up to 10 years. Although nearly half of Western population may harbor adenomatous polyps by the age of 50, it is estimated that only a few percent of adenomas will progress to cancer.

Adapted from materials provided by University of Helsinki, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.University of Helsinki (2008, May 7). Discovery Of A Novel Mechanism For The Development Of Colon Cancer. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 12, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2008/05/080505125625.htm