Oncological Sciences Center

VISION

The international breast cancer and nutrition (IBCN) project is focused on breast cancer prevention research to inform health communication, interventions, and public policy. This project benefits from a global perspective through the establishment of culturally aware multidisciplinary and international collaborations.

The development of breast cancer prevention strategies will be facilitated by a better knowledge of the epigenetic regulation of DNA (i.e, a series of mechanisms resulting in the reorganization of chromatin, in particular, via posttranslational histone modifications and DNA methylation, and that control the expression and silencing of genes). One way to identify epigenetic factors that influence breast cancer development in response to the environment is to focus on nutrition since dietary patterns have been associated with breast cancer and nutrients are known to impact gene expression (nutrigenomics). Once the diet-epigenetic interactions that protect or weaken the breast epithelium have been identified, it will be possible to develop breast cancer prevention strategies.

MISSION

The mission of the IBCN project is to develop an international multidisciplinary collaborative program to identify the impact of nutrition on breast cancer development and recurrence and to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms, including genomics (genetic and epigenetic influence), involved in nutrients-induced breast tissue alterations and cancer development. The anticipated outcomes of this program are the development of strategies to diminish breast cancer incidence and/or incidence of aggressive forms of breast cancer based on epidemiological and biological findings related to nutrition and an impact on public policies via information of the public and health authorities.

GOALS

1. Assemble an international collaborative breast cancer prevention research network that takes into account ethnic and cultural backgrounds;
2. Work with experts involved in all aspects of breast cancer control, including cancer biologists, epigeneticists and geneticists, epidemiologists, nutrition experts, clinicians, bioengineers, statisticians, communication experts, law and public policy experts, anthropologists, education experts, healthcare professionals, and economists;
3. Collaborate with national and international organizations that focus on breast cancer control and environmental impact issues;
4. Identify the links between dietary patterns, epigenomic characteristics and aggressive forms of breast cancer;
5. Develop research projects aimed at identifying targets and directions to prevent breast cancer development and translate the findings into projects for the design of prevention strategies and
6. Develop an integrated training program in breast cancer prevention research and applications that promotes transcontinental and cross-disciplinary learning.

PROJECT LEADERS at Purdue

Sophie Lelièvre, DVM, LLM (Public Health), PhD (Associate Professor; leader of the Breast Cancer Discovery Group of the Purdue Center for Cancer Research; involved in public health, epigenetics, translational studies in breast cancer research)

Connie Weaver, PhD (Professor and Head, Nutrition Science; Director, Botanicals Center for age-related diseases; Deputy Director, Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute-CTSI)

PARTNER TEAMS AROUND THE WORLD

• Canada
• France
• Ghana
• Japan
• Lebanon
• Uruguay
• USA

Disclosures