Calorie restriction and cancer prevention: Established and emerging mechanisms

Abstract

Calorie restriction (CR) is one of the most potent, broadly acting dietary interventions for inducing weight loss and for inhibiting cancer in experimental models. Translation of the mechanistic lessons learned from research on CR to cancer prevention strategies in humans is important given the high prevalence of excess energy intake, obesity, and metabolic syndrome in many parts of the world and also given the established links between obesity-associated metabolic perturbations and increased risk and/or progression of many types of cancers. This chapter synthesizes findings on the biological mechanisms underlying many of the anticancer effects of CR, with emphasis on the role of inflammatory processes and growth factor signaling (well-established mechanisms) as well as vascular perturbations, autophagy, and sirtuins (emerging mechanisms). These CR-responsive pathways and processes represent targets for translating CR research into effective cancer prevention strategies in humans.