Protocol for the Systematic Review of the Biologic Pathways Linking Diet, Nutrition, and Physical Activity with Cancer: World Cancer Research Fund Global Cancer Update Project
Background and Objectives: Biological and mechanistic data can support observational evidence to aid causal inference. The substantial body of available epidemiological evidence on the role of diet, nutrition, physical activity, and body weight and cancer has been systematically reviewed within the...
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| author | Esther M. Gonzalez-Gil Sarah Lewis Helen Croker Vanessa Gordon-Dseagu Beatrice Lauby-Secretan Marc J. Gunter Laure Dossus |
| author_facet | Esther M. Gonzalez-Gil Sarah Lewis Helen Croker Vanessa Gordon-Dseagu Beatrice Lauby-Secretan Marc J. Gunter Laure Dossus |
| author_sort | Esther M. Gonzalez-Gil |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and Objectives: Biological and mechanistic data can support observational evidence to aid causal inference. The substantial body of available epidemiological evidence on the role of diet, nutrition, physical activity, and body weight and cancer has been systematically reviewed within the World Cancer Research Fund Global Cancer Update Program (WCRF CUP Global) over the past few decades. Mechanistic data can provide substantial additional support to established or suspected associations between diet and cancer but has not previously been systematically reviewed within the CUP Global. Here, we describe the development of a framework for the evaluation of biological and mechanistic data to support CUP Global in their evaluations. Methods: The protocol to evaluate mechanistic data utilizes a two-stage, iterative approach: (1) use of expert knowledge in combination with text mining automated tools (https://www.temmpo.org.uk/ accessed on 14 February 2024 to identify a set of the main potential mechanisms (typically 2–3 mechanisms) and their associated intermediate phenotypes (IPs) that link the factor of interest (exposure: E) to the cancer outcome of interest (outcome: O) and (2) for selected mechanisms, perform systematic literature reviews of human studies to evaluate the associations between E and IPs and between IPs and O. An expert committee then assesses the level of evidence for the role of each potential mechanism in the E–O association. If appropriate, additional literature reviews of experimental studies will be performed to address specific questions. Results: A protocol has been developed that can be used to systematically review data on mechanisms in a timely manner. As a first test case, the proposed protocol will be tested to evaluate mechanisms linking dietary patterns and colorectal cancer development. Discussion: This project will produce a framework for the systematic evaluation of mechanistic research to support causal associations between diet, nutrition, physical activity, body weight and cancer risk within WCRF CUP Global. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3190648f76dd4ee1a8105cff00dc2372 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2504-3900 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Proceedings |
| spelling | doaj-art-3190648f76dd4ee1a8105cff00dc23722025-08-20T02:43:02ZengMDPI AGProceedings2504-39002024-03-0191140610.3390/proceedings2023091406Protocol for the Systematic Review of the Biologic Pathways Linking Diet, Nutrition, and Physical Activity with Cancer: World Cancer Research Fund Global Cancer Update ProjectEsther M. Gonzalez-Gil0Sarah Lewis1Helen Croker2Vanessa Gordon-Dseagu3Beatrice Lauby-Secretan4Marc J. Gunter5Laure Dossus6International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization, 69007 Lyon, FranceBristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1QU, UKWorld Cancer Research Fund International, London N1 9FW, UKWorld Cancer Research Fund International, London N1 9FW, UKInternational Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization, 69007 Lyon, FranceInternational Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization, 69007 Lyon, FranceInternational Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization, 69007 Lyon, FranceBackground and Objectives: Biological and mechanistic data can support observational evidence to aid causal inference. The substantial body of available epidemiological evidence on the role of diet, nutrition, physical activity, and body weight and cancer has been systematically reviewed within the World Cancer Research Fund Global Cancer Update Program (WCRF CUP Global) over the past few decades. Mechanistic data can provide substantial additional support to established or suspected associations between diet and cancer but has not previously been systematically reviewed within the CUP Global. Here, we describe the development of a framework for the evaluation of biological and mechanistic data to support CUP Global in their evaluations. Methods: The protocol to evaluate mechanistic data utilizes a two-stage, iterative approach: (1) use of expert knowledge in combination with text mining automated tools (https://www.temmpo.org.uk/ accessed on 14 February 2024 to identify a set of the main potential mechanisms (typically 2–3 mechanisms) and their associated intermediate phenotypes (IPs) that link the factor of interest (exposure: E) to the cancer outcome of interest (outcome: O) and (2) for selected mechanisms, perform systematic literature reviews of human studies to evaluate the associations between E and IPs and between IPs and O. An expert committee then assesses the level of evidence for the role of each potential mechanism in the E–O association. If appropriate, additional literature reviews of experimental studies will be performed to address specific questions. Results: A protocol has been developed that can be used to systematically review data on mechanisms in a timely manner. As a first test case, the proposed protocol will be tested to evaluate mechanisms linking dietary patterns and colorectal cancer development. Discussion: This project will produce a framework for the systematic evaluation of mechanistic research to support causal associations between diet, nutrition, physical activity, body weight and cancer risk within WCRF CUP Global.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/91/1/406protocolbiological pathwaysmechanismscancernutrition |
| spellingShingle | Esther M. Gonzalez-Gil Sarah Lewis Helen Croker Vanessa Gordon-Dseagu Beatrice Lauby-Secretan Marc J. Gunter Laure Dossus Protocol for the Systematic Review of the Biologic Pathways Linking Diet, Nutrition, and Physical Activity with Cancer: World Cancer Research Fund Global Cancer Update Project Proceedings protocol biological pathways mechanisms cancer nutrition |
| title | Protocol for the Systematic Review of the Biologic Pathways Linking Diet, Nutrition, and Physical Activity with Cancer: World Cancer Research Fund Global Cancer Update Project |
| title_full | Protocol for the Systematic Review of the Biologic Pathways Linking Diet, Nutrition, and Physical Activity with Cancer: World Cancer Research Fund Global Cancer Update Project |
| title_fullStr | Protocol for the Systematic Review of the Biologic Pathways Linking Diet, Nutrition, and Physical Activity with Cancer: World Cancer Research Fund Global Cancer Update Project |
| title_full_unstemmed | Protocol for the Systematic Review of the Biologic Pathways Linking Diet, Nutrition, and Physical Activity with Cancer: World Cancer Research Fund Global Cancer Update Project |
| title_short | Protocol for the Systematic Review of the Biologic Pathways Linking Diet, Nutrition, and Physical Activity with Cancer: World Cancer Research Fund Global Cancer Update Project |
| title_sort | protocol for the systematic review of the biologic pathways linking diet nutrition and physical activity with cancer world cancer research fund global cancer update project |
| topic | protocol biological pathways mechanisms cancer nutrition |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/91/1/406 |
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