Elien Alderweireldt

Meat is a valuable nutrient source. Yet, epidemiological studies have revealed the colon cancer inducing effect of red and processed meat products. Therefore, the Superior Health Council has recommended to restrict red and processed meat consumption. Mechanisms behind this effect are still not fully understood, and especially the impact of the colonic environment on later stages of colon cancer progression is not well explored. In our research project, novel cell-culture based approaches will be developed to study the impact of the colonic environment, as simulated by in vitro intestinal meat digestion, on colon cancer initiation and progression. With the construction of organoids from crypt cells isolated from human intestinal biopts, a more complex model to study the impact of red meat metabolites can be established. These organoids, in parallel with existing intestinal cell lines, will be treated with red/processed meat digest compounds on the long term to study especially colon cancer progression. DNA damage and adduct formation can be studied by microscopy and analytical techniques, and the altered cell phenotype will be characterized using live-cell imaging, molecular techniques and LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics. The results of this research may lead towards healthier meat-based food formulations and recommendations.
 

• Research Group Food Chemistry and Human Nutrition 
• Laboratory Experimental Cancer Research (LECR)
• Faculty of Bioscience engineering, Building B, 3rd floor, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
• Ghent University Hospital, Building P7, 1st floor, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Gent, Belgium