Risk of colon and rectal cancer (CRC) is associated with increased obesity (particularly abdominal obesity), physical inactivity, consumption of red/processed meats and alcohol consumption, and reduced with increased intake of calcium, milk/dairy products, garlic and foods containing dietary fiber . The mechanism has been thought to involve two paths: one through inflammation/oxidative stress, and initiation of cancer; and the other through increased food consumption, growth factors and tumour growth. We have recently found that these two paths could interact, resulting in the formation of toxic, potentially carcinogenic chemicals. We propose to test this expectation with diets with high levels of fructose, a rapid source of energy, and a heme extract of cooked meat, a known source of oxidative stress. The question we ask is: Do such diets induce aberrant crypt foci and CRC?

This study is funded by the Environment-Cancer Fund^TM. Thank you to Read for the Cure for their financial contribution to this project.