Classroom Resources for Cancer Biology

ByJennifer A. Williams

Under the faculty guidance of Dr. Cynthia Klevickis

2002

Activities for the Classroom

1. Introducing the Classroom to Cancer.2. Microscopic Observations of Cancer

Cells.3. Cancer Warrior: A Treatment for Cancer.4. Treating Cancer: A Look into Clinical

Trials.5. Risk Factors: No Smoking Please!6. Toxicity Testing with Nicotine.7. All you need to know about Breast

Cancer.

8. Cooking for Cancer

A presentation on foods that help reduce the risk

of getting cancer and dietary risk factors.

Why am I telling you

about foods and cancer?

Most people are not aware of how they can lessen the risk of

obtaining cancer.

• 30% of all cancers are due to tobacco use, and between 35 to 50% of all cancers are associated with diet.

• These cancers are preventable.

• Carcinogens • Origins • Inhibitors • Vitamins• Promoters

Fiber

• Dr. Dennis Burkitt• Colon Cancer• Western Nations• Animal Products• Plant Products

How Does Fiber Work To Prevent Cancer?

• Moves food quickly through the digestive tract.

• Pulls in water. • Water and fiber make

carcinogens more diluted.• Binds to Bile acids.

Fiber and Breast Cancer

• Studies show that breast cancer is less common to those that have a diet high in fiber.

• Estrogens– Normally secreted

into the digestive tract.

– High levels are associated with breast cancer.

• Whole grains, beans, peas, lentils, vegetables, and fruits are the best sources of fiber.

• Foods should also be closest to their natural state, which is unrefined and unpeeled, to have the highest amount of fiber.

• They take 26 nutrients out of whole wheat to make white flour, but they only add 4 back.

http://www.pcrm.org/health/Preventive_Medicine/foods_for_cancer_prevention.html

Field of Greens Pizza

Whole Wheat

Excellent source of fiber.• Contains insoluble fiber.• Experts suggest that you

should have around 6-11 servings of grains a day.– Of this, you should have 3 or

more servings of whole grains.

Dietary Fat

Populations with the highest levels of fat consumption also have the highest death

rates from breast and colon cancer.

• Risk and Survival Rates

• Animal Fat vs. Vegetable Fat

Fat and Cancer

• Increases hormone production.

• Stimulates bile acid production.

• The average American diet is about 37% fat.

• Fat intake should be below 30% in order to prevent cancer.

Vegetables!

Vegetables are low in fat and high in fiber and they contain many cancer-fighting substances.

http://fitnesscentre.ualberta.ca/nutrition/articles/oct..htm

Sprouts

• Alfalfa Sprouts– Contain

Phytoestrogens– Including Lignans

• Induction of cancer cell differentiation, inhibition of tyrosine kinase, and suppression of angiogenesis

http://www.isga-sprouts.org/alfalfa.htm

Broccoli

• Broccoli has multiple cancer-fighting properties

• High in Fiber.• Phytochemicals

– Indoles

• Medium Size Stalk– 220% of daily value of

Vitamin C– 15% of daily value of

vitamin A – Beta Carotene.

http://www.broccoli.com/institute/health_articles.htm

Carrots

• Contains Cartenoids– Acts as

antioxidants

• Contains Beta-carotene– traps free

radicals to help prevent cancer

Cauliflower

• Indoles– Turns off estrogen

hormones

• Sulforaphane– Immune system

• Folic Acid– Cell division– Immune system

• Vitamin C– Antioxidant properties– Immune system

http://www.medicalmeals.com/cauliflower.htm

Spinach

• High Amounts of Vitamin A and K– Helps regulate cell division and

communication– Immune System

• Also contain the cartenoid Beta-Carotene– Anti-oxidant properties

Vitamins and Cancer

• Beta-carotene– Lung, bladder, mouth, larynx,

esophagus, and breast cancers• Vitamin C

– Cancers of the mouth, larynx, esophagus, and stomach.

• Selenium– Prostate, Colon, and Lung

Cancers.

Questions?

Works Cited• Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

“Foods for Cancer Prevention.” November 18, 1998. <http://www.pcrm.org/health/Preventive_Medicine/

foods_for_cancer_prevention.html>• Sizer, Frances and Eleanor Whitney. Nutrition

Concepts and Controversies. Stanford: 2000.• Arnot M.D., Bob. The Breast Cancer Prevention

Diet. Boston: 1998. • University of Alberta Campus Fitness & Lifestyle

Centre Homepage. “Broccoli.gif” 1999. <http://fitnesscentre.ualberta.ca/nutrition/articles

/oct..htm>

Works Cited, con’t• International Sprouts Growers Association.

“Alfalfa Sprouts Connected with Prevention of Menopausal Symptoms, Osteoporosis, Cancer, and Heart Disease.” January 20, 2002. <http://www.isga-sprouts.org/alfalfa.htm#article1>

• Broccoli Town, USA. “Broccoli and Your Health.” 1998.

<http://www.broccoli.com/institute/health_articles.htm>

• Medical Meals.com. “Cauliflower.” 2002. <http://www.medicalmeals.com/cauliflower.htm>