Red Meats and Processed Meat as the Carcinogenic Foods and Phytochemical-chemoprevention

BACKGROUND: Along with its increased prevalence, in the past decade, cancer had joined the list of chronic debilitating diseases. Nutrition become substantial aspects, due to its time-dependent effect to modulate inflammation thus trigger carcinogenic effects by altering the immune check point. Thus, nutrition contributes to the progression and therapeutic response of cancer, both in human or animal models. CONTENT: Meat is well favored food with appreciable appealing. Due to its high nutritional values it plays a central role in human development. Meat or meat derivate are important sources of proteins, minerals and vitamins. Their nutritional importance is worth compare to their economic impact but recent publication of WHO has set the social alarm about the relationship between red and/or processed meat consumption and cancer. On the other side, some natural or biologic agents may inhibit or reverse tumor growth. Some phytochemical agents including curcumin, resveratrol, lycopene, folates and tea polyphenols clinically proved to tune the signaling pathways regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis in transformed cells, enhance the host immune system and sensitize malignant cells to cytotoxic agents. SUMMARY: Recent studies on chemopreventive agents involves a wide range of molecules, natural (plants, fruits and vegetables) or synthetic will provide better insights for cancer early pathogenesis, important end-point biomarker, and finally potential for reducing the burden of cancer.