Mestre Marta Correia

Nacionalidade: Portuguesa

Formação Académica:
1996/2001 – Degree in Nutrition and Food Science at O´Porto University (FCNAUP)
2003-2006 – Master Degree in Clinical Nutrition at Lisbon University (School of Medicine) under the supervision of Professor Marília Cravo and Professor Robert Grimble
2007-2010 – PhD student in Human Biology under the supervision of Professor José Carlos Machado (IPATIMUP) and Eliette Touati (Institut Pasteur)

Trabalhos relacionados com a palestra:
Correia M, Cravo M, Marques-Vidal P, Grimble R, Dias-Pereira A, Faias S, Nobre-Leitão C. Serum concentrations of TNF-alpha as a surrogate marker for malnutrition and worse quality of life in patients with gastric cancer; Clinical Nutrition 2007; 26(6): 728-35

Resumo da Palestra
In their landmark study, Doll and Peto showed that 75% to 80% of all cancers diagnosed in the United States in 1970 might have been prevented by altering lifestyle factors, such as smoking and diet. Subsequently their conclusions were confirmed by a large number of studies. Researchers currently estimate that diet could account for approximately 30% of cancers deaths, similar to the number accounted for by smoking.
Carcinogenesis is generally a slow process during which precancerous cells must accumulate several mutations in the genes involved in the growth control, resistance to apoptosis and induction of angiogenesis in order to grow and invade the host tissues. This process, which might take place over several years, offers a large therapeutic window for blocking the developing of cancer.
There is now considerable evidence that the chemo-preventive properties of nutrients and plant-based food are related to their ability to block the progression of latent micro-tumours. These properties arise from the high content of phytochemicals, antioxidants, vitamins and others, which are molecules that target several key events in the development of cancer. Intensive research conducted over the past few years has shown that these molecules derived from the diet interfere with tumour progression by acting directly on tumour cells as well as by modifying the tumour cells as well as by modifying the tumour’s microenvironment (stroma) and creating physiologic conditions that are hostile to tumour growth.
The inclusion of these molecules in pilot studies seems timely and appropriate, especially in the light of the recent awareness of a potential role of chemo-preventive agents as enhancers of the efficacy of established cancer therapy.