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Mechanistic Insights into the Role of Nutrition in Carcinogenesis and Cancer Care

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2026) | Viewed by 2069

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Endocrine Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine-Propaedeutic, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian Athens University Medical School, 12462 Athens, Greece
Interests: diabetes; metabolism; glycoxidation products; endocrine oncology; obesity; metabolic bone diseases
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer seems to be the largest health threat worldwide, as it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Various genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors have been implicated in its development and progression. Diet has been proven to be an important factor implicated in the pathogenesis and evolution of a variety of cancers, and further research is needed to establish diet as an important determinant in all cancers. Various dietary components and dietary patterns have been associated directly with the pathogenesis of cancer, inducing systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitogenesis. Indirectly, unhealthy diets and habits drive obesity and diabetes mellitus, which are significantly associated with cancer development and its progression. Patients with a diagnosis of cancer go through a variety of therapeutic regimens (surgery, irradiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and new treatment modalities) and experience a high burden of symptoms (nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and weight loss), many of which affect nutritional intake and contribute to the development of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and cachexia, which in turn can influence both patient outcomes and the effectiveness of treatment modalities. Knowledge of the specific involvement of diet in cancer development seems to be an effective strategy for primary prevention of cancer. In addition, dietary intervention for primary and secondary prevention of obesity and diabetes mellitus seems an important strategy for primary and secondary prevention of cancer. Targeted nutritional intervention, including personalized dietary counseling, supplementation, and maintaining a healthy body mass index, in parallel with promising pharmacological intervention, can support patients during the course of cancer and improve the effectiveness of treatment and the overall outcome.

Prof. Dr. Peppa Melpomeni
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • cancer
  • sarcopenia
  • cachexia
  • diet
  • Mediterranean diet
  • dietary patterns
  • obesity
  • diabetes mellitus
  • chemotherapy
  • immunotherapy irradiation
  • surgery

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

25 pages, 1549 KB  
Review
The Gut Nexus: Unraveling Microbiota-Mediated Links Between Type 2 Diabetes and Colorectal Cancer
by Anns Mahboob, Chehbin Shin, Shahd Almughanni, Lubica Hornakova, Peter Kubatka and Dietrich Büsselberg
Nutrients 2025, 17(23), 3803; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233803 - 4 Dec 2025
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1767
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are two of the most rapidly rising chronic diseases globally. Despite appearing distinct, an emerging body of literature identifies shared etiopathogenic mechanisms mediated by gut microbiota. This review synthesizes 38 peer-reviewed studies [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are two of the most rapidly rising chronic diseases globally. Despite appearing distinct, an emerging body of literature identifies shared etiopathogenic mechanisms mediated by gut microbiota. This review synthesizes 38 peer-reviewed studies to evaluate the compositional, metabolic, immune, and translational intersections of gut dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of T2DM-associated CRC. Methods: This narrative literature review examined 38 primary research articles (human and animal studies) retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. Studies were selected based on relevance to the microbiota-mediated mechanisms linking T2DM and CRC, with a focus on compositional analysis, metabolomic shifts, immune activation, and therapeutic interventions. Results: The findings highlight a mechanistically rich overlap between T2DM and CRC through shared dysbiosis, characterized by depletion of SCFA-producing taxa (e.g., Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, Butyricicoccus), enrichment of pathobionts (e.g., Fusobacterium nucleatum, Peptostreptococcus), and the disruption of mucosal immunity and epithelial integrity. Metabolic shifts include reduced butyrate and increased toxic bile acids (e.g., deoxycholic acid), TMAO, and oxidative metabolites, while immune dysregulation features elevated LPS, IL-1β, CXCL3, and NF-κB signaling. Therapeutically, microbiota modulation via diet, metformin, and probiotics shows promise. Conclusions: Gut microbiota lies at the nexus of T2DM and CRC, functioning as a modifiable mediator rather than a passive bystander. Future research should prioritize longitudinal, multi-omic, and intervention-driven studies to enable personalized prevention and treatment strategies. Full article
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