ABSTRACT
The complexity of epidemiological studies relative to the role of diet in pancreatic diseases has drawn focus on experimental studies. Because it is estimated that about 70% of human cancers are caused by chemical carcinogens, most experimental dietary studies have been performed on experimental cancer models. The models, in defined experimental conditions, can provide information on the dietary effect on the initiation or promotion of carcinogenesis processes that depend on a variety of factors.
Some factors may influence the carcinogenesis process at the initiation phase (i.e., DNA alkylation), whereas others modify the postinitiation phase as promoters or inhibitors. Based on epidemiological studies suggesting that a diet high in fat or carbohydrates increases the risk of many types of cancer, several studies focused on the effect of diet on pancreatic carcinogenesis. The involvement of diet in pancreatic carcinogenesis is obvious, because this tissue is the major nutritional machinery.
