Part 3

Can You Switch Off Your Cancer Genes?

Ever since scientists have been able to isolate the numerous genes associated with inherited diseases, including some forms of cancer, this has led many of us to become very concerned, or even fearful, believing we are totally at the mercy of our genes. In other words, these dangerous genes could “go off” at any given time, just like a loaded gun with a hair-trigger. Those who suspect or even know for certain they are carrying one of the genes known to be associated with an increased risk of cancer, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, often live in this constant fearful state of not just the ‘what ifs’, but ‘when will my cancer show up’. Fortunately, we now know that we have more power over our own biology than we have been led to expect in the past. Whilst the Human Genome Project was being publicised worldwide, another group of scientists began working in a new revolutionary field in biology called “epigenetics”. Genetics refers to the actual genes and their sequence or DNA code. However Epi-genetics refers to all the other factors around and outside of our genes that control how, when and if that gene is expressed. In his bestselling book ‘The Biology of Belief’, Dr Bruce H. Lipton PhD* states “In the last decade, epigenetic research has established that DNA blueprints passed down through genes are not set in concrete at birth. Genes are not destiny!” Environmental influences, including nutrition, stress, radiation, sleep, toxins and emotions etc can modify those genes without changing their basic blueprint. And those modifications, epigeneticists have discovered, can be passed on to future generations, as surely as DNA blueprints are passed on via the double helix. So, one question which begs to be answered is: How can something like ‘environmental influences’ actually affect our genes? The answer lies in something called DNA methylation. DNA methylation is a normal biochemical process, where a methyl group (a group of one carbon and three hydrogen atoms) attaches to the DNA, acting like a switch, instructing the gene how to behave, switching it on, or switching it off. Further contributing epigenetic factors include histone modifications and micro-RNAs. These factors also participate in the regulatory processes, thus controlling gene expressions. Scientists have found that external factors, particularly environmental stressors such as toxic chemical exposure, unresolved chronic stress and emotional issues, and poor nutrition can directly influence the methylation of DNA and other regulatory processes which control gene expression. Liver-Doctor-Methyl-Group

Nutrigenomics and Nutrition

Over the last 10 years, research into the field of Nutrigenomics has illuminated the understanding that supplemental nutrients,  good nutrition and lifestyle habits have a direct influence upon our genes, and what we eat or don’t eat can either protect our genes from damage, or trigger them to ‘switch on or off’.  Whether we have specifically inherited undesirable genes or not, our dietary, supplement and lifestyle choices can greatly affect our genes. In the May 2005 edition of Carcinogenesis, Michael Fenech, a research scientist at the CSIRO Genome Health and Nutrigenomics Laboratory in Adelaide, South Australia, and his colleagues studied the effects of nine key nutrients that may affect genomic integrity in various ways. They found that when consumed in increasing amounts in food, six of these nutrients (folate, vitamin B12, niacin, vitamin E, retinol, and calcium) are associated with a reduction in DNA damage; whereas three others (riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and biotin) are associated with an increase in DNA damage. These findings led professor Fenech to conclude: “These observations indicate that nutritional deficiency or excess can cause DNA damage on its own and that the effects are of the same magnitude as that of many common environmental toxicants”. Too much, or too little of certain nutrients can affect our genes. Just look at the damage caused by excess sugar or gluten! A good, balanced, healthy diet filled with lots of naturally occurring vitamins, minerals and antioxidants will help to keep your genes and cells functioning at their optimal state.  It would be beneficial to eat from a wide variety of antioxidant rich fruit and vegetables from each colour of the rainbow.  Antioxidants also have an anti-inflammatory and protective effect and help to heal damaged cells.

Other Environmental Influences

There are many potential environmental influences, besides our diet, we need be aware of when trying to keep our genes healthy. One of those influences is tobacco (cigarette) smoke. Tobacco smoke contains a broad array of very nasty chemical carcinogens that can create DNA damage. Many of the natural DNA repair mechanisms can become damaged as a result of the carcinogenic tobacco smoke and may “switch off”, thereby allowing the DNA to become unprotected, encouraging cancer cells to grow and proliferate. Alcohol has a long history in its association with cancer, especially heavy drinking, yet scientists are still unravelling all of its potential causations. When the body metabolizes the ethanol in alcohol, it converts it to a toxic substance called acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde has damaging effects, not only on the liver, but on the cells and its DNA, preventing it from being repaired. Research also shows that genes play a role in the metabolism of alcohol, which can also influence susceptibility to certain types of cancers.

Stress and our genes

Researchers in Denmark have shown that stress factors can control our genes. During experiments, they exposed human cells to a stress-activating compound which “turned on” genes that were normally silenced. As well, the protective complexes that prevent our genes from being read and translated into protein were lost, when cells experienced stress. These results highlighted the vulnerability of our genes to external stresses, enabling them to be triggered into altering their normal behaviour.  This means that without damaging our genetic code, external stress factors can control the activity of our genes. Our daily stress levels can literally affect our genes’ expressions detrimentally, so anything you can do to relieve or eliminate your stress load would be beneficial. Try relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing, tai chi, massage, exercise, walking in nature, or talking things over with a good friend or a professional counsellor. There are literally hundreds of ways of reducing accumulative stress from your life. Remember your priority is your health and your survival – the greatest challenge in this life is simply to survive; many people die young simply because they did not nurture their genes. The good news is that genetic damage can be repaired – so start today!   References: *Dr Bruce H. Lipton PhD (BA in biology in 1966 from CW Post Campus of Long Island University, and received his PhD in developmental biology from the University of Virginia in 1971): His research at Stanford University’s School of Medicine, between 1987 and 1992, revealed that the environment, operating though the membrane, controlled the behaviour and physiology of the cell, turning genes on and off. His discoveries, which ran counter to the established scientific view that life is controlled by the genes, presaged one of today’s most important fields of study, the science of epigenetics. How Stuff Works – How are genes turned on and off: http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/genetic/genes-turned-off-on1.htm Oxford Journals – International Journal of Epidemiology -- Environmental chemical exposures and human epigenetics: http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/41/1/79.full Oxford Journals – Carcinogenesis – Integrative Cancer Research –“Low intake of calcium, folate, nicotinic acid, vitamin E, retinol, b-carotene and high intake of pantothenic acid, biotin and riboflavin are significantly associated with increased genome instability – results from a dietary intake and micronucleus index survey in South Australia” :  http://carcin.oxfordjournals.org/content/26/5/991.short US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health – “Nutrigenomics: The Genome – Food Interface”:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2137135/ Cancer Research UK – Alcohol and Cancer: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/alcohol-and-cancer/alcohol-facts-and-evidence#alcohol_facts5 Pub Med: Bofetta, P., and M. Hashibe, Alcohol and Cancer. Lancet Oncol, 2006. 7(2): p. 149-156. University of Copenhagen. "Stress can control our genes, researchers find." ScienceDaily, 24 September 2010.:   http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100924122533.htm