Maayan Levy, Ph.D.

Research Overview

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most diagnosed and deadliest forms of cancer worldwide. Only a minority of CRC cases are related to a known genetic predisposition, and it is known to have a strong environmental component contributing to its molecular etiology, highlighting a critical role for adjustable behavioral practices that could be modified to support CRC prevention.

CRC incidence is associated with specific dietary patterns, but little is known about diets that promote the prevention or treatment CRC. Therefore, optimizing nutrition for the prevention and therapy of CRC is an urgent goal. This is particularly apparent in Lynch syndrome, where genetic predisposition and lifestyle jointly determine the rate of cancer initiation and progression in the intestine. While the genetic component awaits the development of effective gene therapy approaches, lifestyle interventions that prevent or delay the onset of tumor development are highly attractive for their low cost, non-invasiveness, low toxicity and their ability to combine with existing treatment strategies.

We have recently discovered a new dietary approach for the prevention and treatment of CRC (Dmitrieva-Posocco et al., Nature, 2022). We propose to apply this new knowledge to achieve a better basic understanding of the factors regulating the molecular etiology of CRC in Lynch Syndrome patients. This study may pave the way for a new metabolite-based adjunctive therapy for CRC.

My “Why”

Developing novel strategies for the prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC) is a pressing challenge. Screening by colonoscopy remains the most important and cost-effective strategy in reducing the incidence and mortality of CRC, as treatments have significant side effects. This is particularly the case in Lynch syndrome, an inherited disorder characterized by mutations in DNA repair genes. Patients with Lynch syndrome are predisposed to the development of cancer, including an increased risk for CRC.

Why Funding Matters

The Prevent Cancer Foundation funding will allow me to conduct research on developing novel strategies for the prevention of colorectal cancer. This study will serve as the stepping-stone for larger follow-up trial in individuals with Lynch syndrome and beyond. If effective, this study will establish a new a low-cost and widely accessible prevention for colorectal cancer.