Lia Visintin

I am working on the HuMyco project, whose focus is set to generate newly hypotheses-driven insights into the role of multiple mycotoxin exposure in the aetiology of human carcinomas. The foremost toxic effects of mycotoxins are carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, oestrogenicity, allergenic manifestations, reproductive disorders, immunosuppression, and dermal effects. research studying the relationship between nutrition (= dietary exposure) and cancer needs to be prioritized and extended substantially. The notion that multiple mycotoxin exposure has a potentially increased carcinogenic effect, over singularly present mycotoxins, is resonated in more recent publications. Mycotoxins may affect three distinct stages in the carcinogenic process, namely the initiation, promotion, and progression phases of cancer aetiology. Although several cancers might be associated with multiple mycotoxin exposure (e.g. liver, colon, rectum, kidney, oesophagus, breast, etc.), empirical evidence remains scarce or non-existent for most of these types of cancer. Moreover, multiple mycotoxin exposures and cancer incidence have never been investigated for causal relationships through a genomic-approach.
 

• Lab address: Campus Heymans, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium