Prof Kay-Tee Khaw
Dunn Human Nutrition Unit, Medical Research Council
University of Cambridge
Cambridge, UK
Project title (1)
Diet, activity, psychosocial factors and survival from breast cancer (2008/21)
Project (1) plain language abstract
There is very little advice available to patients who develop breast cancer about what they should eat to avoid recurrence and improve survival, for example whether they should avoid alcohol or eat less fat or eat more soy products. Most of the advice given has been obtained from studies of healthy people who avoid developing cancer in later life, which may not be applicable to cancer patients. In this study, breast cancer patients will be approached and asked to keep a food diary for one week, in addition to an activity diary and psychosocial questionnaire adapted to cancer patients. The effects of diet, activity and psychosocial factors will be analysed in relation to how long cancer patients remain free of cancer. The findings will form the basis of advice to patients and doctors as part of treatment. Factors such as stage of diagnosis, treatment and cancer genes will be taken into account.
Scientific abstract (1)
The aim of this study is to identify nutritional, physical activity factors and psychosocial circumstances associated with breast cancer survival and prognosis. In a prospective study of cancer survivors, SEARCH (Studies of Epidemiology And Risk Factors in Cancer Heredity) 7600 breast cancer patients under 70 years diagnosed with breast cancer from 2003 and at least one year previously, will be asked to complete a food diary.
Those who accept who are not on chemotherapy or radiotherapy will be sent a 7 day diary immediately, except if they have had treatment in the last 12 months, in which case the diary will be sent 12 months after the completion of treatment. Similarly, those who are currently receiving treatment will be sent a diary 12 months after completion of treatment. Participants who return the food diary will be asked to complete an activity diary and a psychosocial questionnaire. Changes in vital status will be notified by the Eastern Cancer Registration and Information Centre (ECRIC). The effects of macronutrients, foods, micronutrients and phytochemicals on survival since diagnosis, according to stage of diagnosis, pathology, surgical treatment, adjuvant therapy, age, body mass index, activity, psychosocial factors, and cancer predisposition genes will be assessed.
Project title (2)
Nested prospective case control study in breast and colorectal cancer of a new biomarker for sugars intake and impact of biomarkers on risk assessment of diet in relation to cancer (2007/53)
Project (2) plain language abstract
With WCRF funding, we previously developed a biomarker for sugars intake, which we have recently shown to be strongly associated with risk of obesity. As both sugars intake and obesity are associated with cancer risk at a number of sites, we would now like to apply this new biomarker to a nested case control study of breast and colorectal cancer, and, together with other biomarkers - both existing and currently under development - to specifically assess measurement error in dietary reports from individuals who are overweight. In our recent work, reports of intake of vitamin C, sugars and protein from individuals whose BMI <25 were significantly associated with biomarkers (p<0.001) whereas in those whose BMI exceeded 30 there was no relationship (p> 0.05). A similar relationship was seen with two other well established biomarkers, plasma vitamin C and urinary urea. Intake of vitamin C may have been over-reported and sugars under-reported. Urines from 600 cases of breast and colorectal cancer and four matched controls (n = 3000), together with those from 1000 randomly selected men and women across the range of BMI in the EPIC Norfolk cohort will be analysed for urinary sugars, urea, sodium and potassium. Odds ratios for risk of cancer and relationships with these and other biomarkers across sex specific quintiles of BMI will be investigated. These data and associated factors will be used to assess (i) risk of increased sugars intake in colorectal and breast cancer and (ii) measurement error and ways of correcting for it in estimations of risk from diet in cancer prevention.
Scientific abstract (2)
With WCRF funding, a biomarker for sugars intake was previously developed, by this research group which has recently shown to be strongly associated with risk of obesity. As both sugars intake and obesity are associated with cancer risk at a number of sites, the study applies this new biomarker to a nested case control study of breast and colorectal cancer, and, together with other biomarkers - both existing and currently under development - to specifically assess measurement error in dietary reports from individuals who are overweight. In our recent work, reports of intake of vitamin C, sugars and protein from individuals whose body mass index (BMI) was <25 were significantly associated with biomarkers (p<0.001) whereas in those whose BMI exceeded 30 there was no relationship (p> 0.05). A similar relationship was seen with two other well established biomarkers, plasma vitamin C and urinary urea. Intake of vitamin C may have been over-reported and sugars under-reported.
Urine samples from 600 cases of breast and colorectal cancer and four matched controls (n = 3000), together with those from 1000 randomly selected men and women across the range of BMI in the EPIC Norfolk cohort will be analysed for urinary sugars, urea, sodium and potassium. Odds ratios for risk of cancer and relationships with these and other biomarkers across sex specific quintiles of BMI will be investigated. These data and associated factors will be used to assess (i) risk of increased sugars intake in colorectal and breast cancer and (ii) measurement error and ways of correcting for it in estimations of risk from diet in cancer prevention.
Institution and location |
Degree |
Year |
Scientific Field |
|---|---|---|---|
University of Cambridge, UK |
MBBChir |
1975 |
Medicine |
University of Cambridge, UK |
MA |
1976 |
Medical Sciences |
Royal College of Physicians, UK |
MRCP (FRCP) |
1977 (1992) |
Medicine |
University of London, UK |
MSc |
1980 |
Epidemiology |
Faculty of Public Health UK |
MFPH (FFPH) |
1993 (1999) |
Public Health |
| 1989– | Professor in Clinical Gerontology, University of Cambridge, UK |
| 1986–89 | Senior Registrar in Community Medicine, University of Cambridge, UK |
| 1985–89 | Assistant Professor, University of California San Diego, USA |
| 1982–84 | Wellcome Trust Research Fellow, University of California San Diego, USA |
| 1979–82 | Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Fellow, St. Marys Hospital London W2 and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK |
| 1978–79 | Registrar, Liver Unit, Kings College Hospital London SE5, UK |
| 1977–78 | Senior House Officer, Whittington Hospital London N19, UK |
| 1975–76 | House physician and surgeon, Medical and Surgical Unit, St. Marys Hospital London W2, UK |
Research interests
Epidemiology and prevention of chronic diseases: cancer, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis; nutrition and hormones.
