Foods for Hemangioblastoma!

Introduction

Foods for Hemangioblastoma should be personalized for each individual and also must adapt when cancer treatment or tumor genetic change. The personalization and adaptation must consider all the active ingredients or bioactives contained in different foods with respect to cancer tissue biology, genetics, treatments, lifestyle conditions and diet preferences. Hence while nutrition is one of the very important decisions for a cancer patient and individual at risk of cancer to make – how to choose foods to eat is not an easy task.

Hemangioblastoma is a noncancerous (benign) tumor that develops in the lining of a blood vessel, and it forms in the lower part of the brain, spinal cord, or retina. They are slow-growing tumors that can often be treated before any lasting complications arise. Many people with a mutation in the gene VHL (or with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome) have a higher probability of developing hemangioblastomas. Hemangioblastomas typically occur in adults between the ages of 20-65 years of age. Symptoms of hemangioblastoma can vary based on the location of the tumor and tend to develop gradually. Common symptoms include headache, loss of coordination and balance, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness or numbness, constipation, incontinence. Radiosurgery is a key option for treating hemangioblastomas. If successfully treated, it does not have long-term complications and it usually does not reoccur, but if the hemangioblastoma has grown and damaged nerves in the brain, there may be lasting complications. Supportive care with the right nutrition (food and natural supplements) can further help with improving patients’ well-being.

For Hemangioblastoma does it matter what vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds one eats?

A very common nutrition question asked by cancer patients and individuals at-genetic risk of cancer is – for cancers like Hemangioblastoma does it matter what foods I eat and which I do not? Or if I follow a plant-based diet is that enough for cancer like Hemangioblastoma?

For example does it matter if vegetable Bitter Gourd is consumed more compared to Mustard Spinach? Does it make any difference if fruit Pummelo is preferred over Red Raspberry? Also if similar choices are made for nuts/seeds like Common Walnut over Macadamia Nut and for pulses like Broad Bean over Lima Bean. And if what I eat matters – then how does one identify foods which are recommended for Hemangioblastoma and is it the same answer for everyone with the same diagnosis or genetic risk?

Yes! Foods you eat matters for Hemangioblastoma!

Food recommendations may not be the same for everyone and can be different even for the same diagnosis and genetic risk.

All foods (vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, pulses, oils etc.) and nutritional supplements are made up of more than one active molecular ingredient or bio-actives in different proportions and quantities. Each active ingredient has a unique mechanism of action – which can be activation or inhibition of different biochemical pathways. Simply stated foods and supplements which are recommended are those which do not cause an increase of molecular drivers of cancer but reduce them. Else those foods should not be recommended. Foods contain multiple active ingredients – hence when evaluating foods and supplements you need to consider the impact of all active ingredients cumulatively rather than individually.

For example Pummelo contains active ingredients Quercetin, Catechol, Daidzein, Delphinidin, Isoliquiritigenin. And Red Raspberry contains active ingredients Ellagic Acid, Quercetin, Catechol, Daidzein, Delphinidin and possibly others.

A common mistake made when deciding and choosing foods to eat for Hemangioblastoma – is to evaluate only selected active ingredients contained in foods and ignore the rest. Because different active ingredients contained in foods may have opposing effects on cancer drivers – you cannot cherry pick active ingredients in foods and supplements for making a nutrition decision for Hemangioblastoma.

YES – FOOD CHOICES MATTER FOR CANCER. NUTRITION DECISIONS MUST CONSIDER ALL ACTIVE INGREDIENTS OF FOODS.

Skills Needed for Nutrition Personalization for Hemangioblastoma?

Personalized nutrition for cancers like Hemangioblastoma consists of recommended foods / supplements; not recommended foods / supplements with example recipes which prioritize use of recommended foods. An example of personalized nutrition can be seen at this link.

Deciding which foods are recommended or not is extremely complicated, requiring expertise in Hemangioblastoma biology, food science, genetics, biochemistry along with good understanding of how cancer treatments work and associated vulnerabilities by which the treatments could stop being effective.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE EXPERTISE NEEDED FOR NUTRITION PERSONALIZATION FOR CANCER ARE: CANCER BIOLOGY, FOOD SCIENCE, CANCER TREATMENTS AND GENETICS.

Characteristics of cancers like Hemangioblastoma

All cancers like Hemangioblastoma can be characterized by a unique set of biochemical pathways – the signature pathways of Hemangioblastoma. Biochemical pathways like Angiogenesis, MAPK Signaling, Hypoxia, DNA Repair are part of the signature definition of Hemangioblastoma. Each individual’s cancer genetics can be different and hence their specific cancer signature could be unique.

The treatments which are effective for Hemangioblastoma need to be cognizant of the associated signature biochemical pathways for each cancer patient and individual at genetic risk. Therefore different treatments with different mechanisms of actions are effective for different patients. Similarly and for the same reasons foods and supplements need to be personalized for each individual. Hence some foods and supplements are recommended for Hemangioblastoma when taking cancer treatment Bevacizumab, and some foods and supplements are not recommended.

Sources like cBioPortal and many others provide population representative patient anonymized data from clinical trials for all cancer indications. This data consists of clinical trial study details like sample size / number of patients, age groups, gender, ethnicity, treatments, tumor site and any genetic mutations.

VHL, XPC, FUS, KDM6B and TP53BP1 are the top ranked reported genes for Hemangioblastoma. VHL is reported in 58.6 % of the representative patients across all clinical trials. And XPC is reported in 18.2 %. The combined population patient data cover ages from to . 66.7 % of the patient data are identified as men. The Hemangioblastoma biology along with reported genetics together define the population represented signature biochemical pathways for this cancer. If the individual cancer tumor genetics or genes contributing to the risk are also known then that should also be used for nutrition personalization.

NUTRITION CHOICES SHOULD MATCH WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL’S CANCER SIGNATURE.

Food and Supplements for Hemangioblastoma

For Cancer Patients

Cancer patients on treatment or on palliative care need to make decisions on food and supplements – for the needed dietary calories, for managing any treatment side effects and also for improved cancer management. All plant-based foods are not equal and choosing and prioritizing foods which are personalized and customized to ongoing cancer treatment is important and complicated. Here are some examples providing guidelines for making nutrition decisions.

Choose Vegetable BITTER GOURD or MUSTARD SPINACH?

Vegetable Bitter Gourd contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Catechol, Daidzein, Delphinidin, Isoliquiritigenin, Cinnamaldehyde. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like MAPK Signaling, Angiogenesis and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Bitter Gourd is recommended for Hemangioblastoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Bevacizumab. This is because Bitter Gourd modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Bevacizumab.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in vegetable Mustard Spinach are Catechol, Daidzein, Delphinidin, Isoliquiritigenin, Cinnamaldehyde. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like TGFB Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Mustard Spinach is not recommended for Hemangioblastoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Bevacizumab because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

VEGETABLE BITTER GOURD IS RECOMMENDED OVER MUSTARD SPINACH FOR Hemangioblastoma AND TREATMENT Bevacizumab.

Choose Fruit RED RASPBERRY or PUMMELO?

Fruit Red Raspberry contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Ellagic Acid, Quercetin, Catechol, Daidzein, Delphinidin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like MAPK Signaling, Hypoxia, TGFB Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Red Raspberry is recommended for Hemangioblastoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Bevacizumab. This is because Red Raspberry modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Bevacizumab.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in fruit Pummelo are Quercetin, Catechol, Daidzein, Delphinidin, Isoliquiritigenin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like TGFB Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Pummelo is not recommended for Hemangioblastoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Bevacizumab because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

FRUIT RED RASPBERRY IS RECOMMENDED OVER PUMMELO FOR Hemangioblastoma AND TREATMENT Bevacizumab.

Choose Nut COMMON WALNUT or MACADAMIA NUT?

Common Walnut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Ellagic Acid, Quercetin, Catechol, Daidzein, Delphinidin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like MAPK Signaling, Hypoxia, TGFB Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Common Walnut is recommended for Hemangioblastoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Bevacizumab. This is because Common Walnut modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Bevacizumab.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in Macadamia Nut are Catechol, Daidzein, Delphinidin, Isoliquiritigenin, Cinnamaldehyde. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like MAPK Signaling, TGFB Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Macadamia Nut is not recommended for Hemangioblastoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Bevacizumab because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

COMMON WALNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER MACADAMIA NUT FOR Hemangioblastoma AND TREATMENT Bevacizumab.

For Individuals with Genetic Risk of Cancer

The question asked by individuals who have genetic risk of Hemangioblastoma or familial history is “What Should I Eat Differently from Before?” and how they should choose foods and supplements to manage risks of the disease. Since for cancer risk there is nothing actionable in terms of treatment – decisions of foods and supplements become important and one of the very few actionable things which can be done. All plant-based foods are not equal and based on identified genetics and pathway signature – the choices of food and supplements should be personalized.

Choose Vegetable GIANT BUTTERBUR or MEXICAN GROUNDCHERRY?

Vegetable Giant Butterbur contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Lycopene, Vitamin C, Catechol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like MAPK Signaling, Carbohydrate Metabolism, Stem Cell Signaling and Post Translation Modification and others. Giant Butterbur is recommended for risk of Hemangioblastoma when associated genetic risk is FUS. This is because Giant Butterbur increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in vegetable Mexican Groundcherry are Apigenin, Curcumin, Catechol, Protocatechuic Acid, Kaempferol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Stem Cell Signaling and others. Mexican Groundcherry is not recommended when risk of Hemangioblastoma when associated genetic risk is FUS because it increases the signature pathways of it.

VEGETABLE GIANT BUTTERBUR IS RECOMMENDED OVER MEXICAN GROUNDCHERRY FOR FUS GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

Choose Fruit NANCE or BREADNUT TREE SEED?

Fruit Nance contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Vitamin C, Catechol, Protocatechuic Acid. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like MAPK Signaling, Hypoxia and Carbohydrate Metabolism and others. Nance is recommended for risk of Hemangioblastoma when associated genetic risk is FUS. This is because Nance increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in fruit Breadnut Tree Seed are Apigenin, Curcumin, Lycopene, Catechol, Protocatechuic Acid. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Stem Cell Signaling and others. Breadnut Tree Seed is not recommended when risk of Hemangioblastoma when associated genetic risk is FUS because it increases the signature pathways of it.

FRUIT NANCE IS RECOMMENDED OVER BREADNUT TREE SEED FOR FUS GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

Choose Nut BUTTERNUT or ALMOND?

Butternut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Lycopene, Catechol, Protocatechuic Acid. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like MAPK Signaling, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Stem Cell Signaling and MYC Signaling and others. Butternut is recommended for risk of Hemangioblastoma when associated genetic risk is FUS. This is because Butternut increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in Almond are Curcumin, Catechol, Isoliquiritigenin, Phloretin, Melatonin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and others. Almond is not recommended when risk of Hemangioblastoma when associated genetic risk is FUS because it increases the signature pathways of it.

BUTTERNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER ALMOND FOR FUS GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

In Conclusion

Foods and Supplements chosen are important decisions for cancers like Hemangioblastoma. Hemangioblastoma patients and individuals with genetic-risk always have this question: “What foods and nutritional supplements are recommended for me and which are not?” There is a common belief which is a misconception that all plant-based foods could be beneficial or not but would not be harmful. Certain foods and supplements can interfere with cancer treatments or promote molecular pathway drivers of cancer.

There are different types of cancer indications like Hemangioblastoma, each with different tumor genetics with further genomic variations across each individual. Further every cancer treatment and chemotherapy has a unique mechanism of action. Each food like Bitter Gourd contains various bioactives in different quantities, which have an impact on different and distinct sets of biochemical pathways. The definition of personalized nutrition is individualized food recommendations for the cancer indication, treatments, genetics, lifestyle and other factors. Nutrition personalization decisions for cancer require knowledge of cancer biology, food science and an understanding of different chemotherapy treatments. Finally when there are treatment changes or new genomics is identified – the nutrition personalization needs re-evaluation.

The addon nutrition personalization solution makes the decision making easy and removes all the guesswork in answering the question, “What foods should I choose or not choose for Hemangioblastoma?”. The addon multi-disciplinary team includes cancer physicians, clinical scientists, software engineers and data scientists.

References

• Msk Impact 2017
• Mutational landscape of metastatic cancer revealed from prospective clinical sequencing of 10,000 patients.
• Daidzein effect on hormone refractory prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo compared to genistein and soy extract: potentiation of radiotherapy.
• Melatonin and vitamin D3 synergistically down-regulate Akt and MDM2 leading to TGFβ-1-dependent growth inhibition of breast cancer cells.
• Lycopene attenuated hepatic tumorigenesis via differential mechanisms depending on carotenoid cleavage enzyme in mice.
• https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/8232/hemangioblastoma
• https://www.healthline.com/health/hemangioblastoma