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Closing Remarks

The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 [D. K.], and Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer Program, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20205 [D. J. F.]

This workshop was convened to probe the current status of knowledge (and ignorance) in various subdisciplines related to the general broad area of fat and cancer. The conferees were urged to examine what they perceived as deficiencies of the field as it now exists and to explore ways in which this situation could be ameliorated. With respect to this charge, the workshop has been a highly successful event. The format of the meeting permitted considerable interaction and discussion by participants in related areas and among all participants.

The summaries and recommendations of the individual working groups are presented in this publication, and it is not our purpose to reiterate their point-by-point conclusions. It is relevant, however, to comment on the tenor of the recommendations which, despite the dissimilarities in subject, expressed similar concerns. If one word can summarize the basic concern of all groups, it is standardization—standardization of protocols, basic diets, methodologies, treatments, and expression of data. Another prominent concern, which became apparent during the discussions, was the need for interaction among investigators with diverse interests and expertise in future studies related to fat and cancer.

In the epidemiological arena, the panel spoke of the need for more case-control studies; standardization of reliable interview techniques; better utilization of current resources, surveys carried out for other reasons but whose findings can be useful to studies of epidemiology of cancer; recognition that all dietary components must be assessed rather than only those of specific interest: and the need to recruit the views of experts in those areas of nutrition and metabolism under investigation.

The working groups which discussed fat in general and steroids and hormones in particular stressed the need for defined diets. Comparison of data will be valid only if dietary changes are played against the same basic diet. This requires defined semipurified diets of known general composition and of similar detailed vitamin and mineral supplementation. Similarly, protocols regarding induction of carcinogenesis i.e., type of carcinogen and mode of administration, should be standardized. Better definition of how specific rat strains react to the treatments and diet is also required. Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats do not react to hypocholesterolemic regimens in precisely similar ways. This could have a bearing on their response to diet and carcinogenic compounds. Another recurrent theme was the need for assessment of (or at least recognition of) the interaction of all dietary components. In more specialized areas of analysis, a need was expressed for uniform standards, of various oxygenated bile acids, for instance.

An exciting area of interest that is new to the entire field of fat research is the role of lipids in immune function. The role of nutrition per se in this field is being explored with vigor. This field provides a broad basis for interaction which has barely begun. The role of lipoproteins in mediation of immune function holds exciting possibilities. There is already a vast background literature available on lipoprotein structure, composition, and biogenesis. This knowledge can be of immediate utility to immunologists and is presently being put to use.

Finally, the Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer Program expresses its appreciation to the investigators who planned and participated in this very successful meeting. As followup to one of the areas of concern, the Diet, Nutrition, and Cancer Program held a small workshop in October 1980 to review the status of animal diets in experimental carcinogenesis. The conclusions of that workshop are being prepared for publication and will be available in the near future.