Objective The male predominance of adenocarcinomas in the gastrointestinal tract remains enigmatic. Sex hormonal influence might play a key role in explaining this pattern. Phytoestrogens, the plan derivatives with estrogenic properties, have shown clear anti-carcinogenic effects in vitro and animal studies. Interestingly, phytoestrogens especially lignans (abundant in western diet) are generally found in fibre-rich plant food. Whether phytoestrogens exert an independent effect or play a joint role together with dietary fibre are largely unknown. Phytoestrogens and fibres are both correlated with obesity which indicates a potential interaction. The planning project is to integrate the increasing knowledge of dietary phytoestrogens and fibres with obesity to interpret the gender-specific incidence patterns of gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas. Two studies using data from EPIC (the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) and one pooled study from several prospective large cohorts in Europe and other countries are planned to achieve the study objectives. Two questions will be examined: 1) how and to what extent phytoestrogens and fibres (dietary measurement using questionnaires and biomarkers) independently or synergistically, interaction with obesity (anthropometric measurements and adipokines) and H.pylori contribute to the gender specific incidence of gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas, 2) whether diet, obesity and gut flora or more factors contribute to the abrupt increase of the duodenal adenocarcinoma in the recent decades. The expected results may shed light on the causality of gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas and facilitate the understanding of independent or synergistic roles of phytoestrogens and fibres interaction with obesity in the cancer etiology and prevention. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologyprostate cancermedical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutritionobesity Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinator IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE EU contribution € 231 283,20 Address SOUTH KENSINGTON CAMPUS EXHIBITION ROAD SW7 2AZ LONDON United Kingdom See on map Region London Inner London — West Westminster Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Tatjana Palalic (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data