Cancer

How Lifestyles May Impact Disease Development, Progression, and Treatment

1st Edition - April 9, 2022
Authors: Hymie Anisman, Alexander W. Kusnecov
Language: English
Paperback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 1 9 0 4 - 3
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 8 5 2 2 - 2

Cancer: How Lifestyles May Impact Disease Development, Progression, and Treatment explores different processes that influence the efficacy of treatments and what lifestyle and be… Read more

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Cancer: How Lifestyles May Impact Disease Development, Progression, and Treatment explores different processes that influence the efficacy of treatments and what lifestyle and behavioral modification options are available to patients to improve therapy responses, with a focus on addressing their strengths and weaknesses. The book discusses mechanisms by which particular lifestyles may affect cancer processes, including various aspects of immune functioning, inflammatory and energy-related processes, reactive oxygen species, hormonal and neurotransmitter mechanisms, the role of neurotrophins, and microbial effects. Considerable attention is devoted to the impact of psychosocial processes that indirectly affect disease occurrence, and to behavioral change methods.

Cover
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: Cancer biology and pathology
The distress of cancer
Extrinsic influences on cancer
Features of cancer development and progression
Cancer processes
Sources of cancer
Treatment resistance
Metastases
Ingredients for cancer growth and metastasis
Impact of hormones and hormone receptors on cancer processes
Inflammatory factors in the cancer process
Intrinsic vs extrinsic contributions to cancer occurrence
Summary and conclusions
References
Chapter 2: Cancer and immunity
Abstract
Changing times concerning diseases
Fundamentals of immunity
Innate and adaptive components of the immune system
Anatomy of the immune system: The lymphoid system
Adaptive (acquired) immunity
Cytokines
Inflammasome
Immune tolerance
Summary and conclusions
References
Chapter 3: Microbiota and health
Abstract
How it began
Features of microbiota
An evolutionary perspective
Microbiota development
Microbiota and immune functioning
Microbiota and illness comorbidities
Identifying good and bad microbes
The influence of environmental toxicants
Summary and conclusions
References
Chapter 4: Genetic and epigenetic processes linked to cancer
Abstract
Genetics and natural selection: The good and the bad
From Mendelian genetics to molecular biology
DNA and RNA
Epigenetic processes
Complex gene × environment interactions
Population-level genetics
Precision (personalized) medicine
Summary and conclusions
References
Chapter 5: Stressors: Psychological and neurobiological processes
Abstract
Attributions and misattributions of stressor effects on illness
Features of stressors
Chronic stressors and allostatic load
Stress sensitization
Identifying and responding to stressors
Resilience and vulnerability
Neurobiological actions of stressors
Growth factors
Cellular stress responses
Prenatal and early-life stressor effects
Summary and conclusions
References
Chapter 6: Stress, immunity, and cancer
Abstract
Blame it on stressor experiences
Brain and immune system interactions
Stressor influences on immunity
Cytokine variations associated with stressors
Stress and microbiota
Stressful events and cancer
Influence of psychosocial stressors on immunity and cancer
Prenatal and early-life stressors in relation to cancer
Influence of diverse life stressors
Psychological factors associated with cancer treatment
Linking neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders to cancer
Summary and conclusions
References
Chapter 7: Eating and nutrition links to cancer
Abstract
Then and now
The digestive process
Hormonal and brain processes underlying eating
Diets and weight loss
Diet and nutrition in relation to cancer
Summary and conclusions
References
Chapter 8: Dietary components associated with being overweight, having obesity, and cancer
Abstract
Being overweight or having obesity as a health risk
Linking the development of obesity to cancer
Relations between obesity, immunity, inflammation, and cancer
Genetic influences on obesity
Dietary components in relation to cancer and its treatment
Summary and conclusions
References
Chapter 9: Microbiota in relation to cancer
Abstract
Finding the right microbial mix
Microbiota in relation to cancer
Short-chain fatty acids
Influence of specific microbiota in diverse forms of cancer
Parasites and cancer
The inflammatory link between microbiota and cancer
Impact of the prenatal and perinatal diet
The other side of microbiota: Is there value to prebiotic and probiotic supplements?
Summary and conclusions
References
Chapter 10: Exercise
Abstract
The broad effects of exercise
Immune and cytokine changes associated with exercise
Cytokine changes associated with exercise
Exercise and cancer prevention
Impact of exercise on existent cancers
Impact of exercise on cancer features and side effects of treatments
Fueling cancer progression
Exercise and microbiota
Sedentary behaviors
The social element
Roadblocks to exercise and how to get around them
Summary and conclusions
References
Chapter 11: Sleep and circadian rhythms
Abstract
A brief history of thoughts and research related to sleep
Functions of sleep
Links between sleep and other lifestyle factors
Neurobiological aspects related to sleep and circadian rhythms
Circadian rhythms: Immune and cytokine changes
Sleep, circadian rhythms, and cancer progression
Occupations associated with altered sleep cycles and cancer occurrence
Sleep disruption and diurnal variations in relation to microbiota
Implications of circadian rhythmicity to cancer treatments
Summary and conclusions
References
Chapter 12: Adopting healthy behaviors: Toward prevention and cures
Abstract
Understanding counterproductive behaviors
A brief look back
Intervention approaches
Changing attitudes and behaviors and barriers to change
Psychosocial and cognitive approaches to enhance health behaviors
Positive psychology
Social support
Summary and conclusions
References
Chapter 13: Cancer therapies: Caveats, concerns, and momentum
Abstract
Promises, promises
Cancer screening
Cancer screening in common types of cancer
Caveats concerning screening and early cancer detection
Unintended consequences and unintended benefits
Progress in cancer treatment development
Complementary and alternative medicine
Precision treatment: Obstacles and challenges
Summary and conclusions
References
Chapter 14: Traditional therapies and their moderation
Abstract
The role of serendipity
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy
The challenge of treatment resistance
Nutrients related to treatment resistance
Manipulating energy and metabolism
Microbiota in relation to chemotherapy
Summary and conclusions
References
Chapter 15: Immunotherapies and their moderation
Abstract
Immunotherapeutic approaches
Stem cell therapy
Nonspecific immunotherapies
Treatment vaccines
Antibody-based therapies
Enhancing immunotherapy’s effectiveness
Side effects of checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T therapy
Use of biomarkers
Influence of microbiota on treatment responses to cancer therapies
Prebiotics and probiotics in cancer treatment
Summary and conclusions
References
Chapter 16: Moving forward—The science and the patient
Abstract
Where we stand
Moving forward
Prevention vs treatment
Living with dignity
Dying with dignity
Summary and conclusions
References
Index

Hymie Anisman

Hymie Anisman received his PhD from the University of Waterloo, where he was also on faculty for two years, and has been a Professor at Carleton University, since 1994. He has also held an adjunct appointment with the Institute of Mental Health Research (Royal Ottawa Hospital) since 1993. Professor Anisman was a Senior Ontario Mental Health Research Fellow, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and held a Canada Research Chair in Neuroscience from 2001-2015, and has since held the position of Canada Research Professor. The principle theme of his research has concerned the influence of stressors on neurochemical, neuroendocrine and immune systems, and how these influence psychological (anxiety, depression) and physical illnesses including neurodegenerative, heart disease, and cancer progression.

Affiliations and expertise

Canada Research Chair in Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ONT, Canada

Alexander W. Kusnecov

Alex Kusnecov received his doctorate from the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, after which he conducted postdoctoral research in psychoneuroimmunology at the University of Rochester. Subsequently, he held a faculty appointment in the Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, USA. He is currently a Professor within the Department of Psychology at Rutgers University, where his research involves the analyses of functional relationships between the brain and behavior, endocrine systems, and immune processes. His research on psychoneuroimmunology has appeared in prestigious journals, and together with Dr. Anisman, he has published two books (one an edited volume, and the other a text dealing with the involvement of the immune system in mental illnesses and neurodegenerative disorders). His research is funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH). He serves on the editorial board of Brain, Behavior and Immunity, and has served on several National Institute for Health research grant panels, and has reviewed grants for Canadian and European grant agencies. He has acted as undergraduate director of the Department of Psychology, and currently co-chairs the Department of Psychology Diversity and Climate Committee.

Affiliations and expertise

Professor, Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA