For Which Cancer Types Should I Avoid Eicosapentaenoic Acid Supplement?

Highlights

Nutritional supplements like Eicosapentaenoic Acid have many health benefits and are being widely used by cancer patients and those at-genetic-risk of cancer. But, is it safe to take Eicosapentaenoic Acid supplements for all types of cancer and without considering any ongoing treatments and other lifestyle conditions? A common belief but only a myth is that anything natural can only benefit me or do no harm. As one example, the use of grapefruit with certain medications is not recommended. Another example, the use of spinach with some blood thinning medications can cause adverse interactions and should be avoided. For cancer, nutrition which includes the food and natural supplements has been shown to influence outcomes. Hence a frequently asked question by cancer patients to dieticians and doctors is “What Should I eat and What Should I Avoid?”. 

Taking nutritional Eicosapentaenoic Acid supplements can benefit cancer patients with Small Intestine Adenocarcinoma patients on Temozolomide treatment. But avoid Eicosapentaenoic Acid supplements if on Ifosfamide treatment for Choroid Plexus Tumors. Similarly, taking nutritional supplement Eicosapentaenoic Acid can benefit healthy individuals who are at genetic risk of cancer due to mutation of gene TP53. But avoid taking nutritional supplement Eicosapentaenoic Acid when at genetic risk of cancer due to mutation of gene PALB2.

The takeaway being – your individual context will influence your decision if nutritional supplement Eicosapentaenoic Acid is safe or not. And also that this decision needs to be constantly revisited as conditions change. Conditions like cancer type, current ongoing treatments and supplements, age, gender, weight, height, lifestyle and any genetic mutations identified matter. So a legitimate question for you to ask for any recommendation of food and natural supplement is how it is related to your individual context.

Brief Overview

Nutritional supplements – vitamins, herbs, minerals, probiotics, and other specialty categories are increasing. Supplements  are high concentrations of active ingredients which are also found in different foods. The difference being foods contain more than one active ingredient at lower diffused concentrations. Remember that each of these ingredients has its own science and biological mechanism at molecular level – hence choose  the right combination of supplements like Eicosapentaenoic Acid based on individual context and conditions. 

So the question is should you take the supplement Eicosapentaenoic Acid? Should you take it when at genetic risk of cancer for mutation of gene PALB2? Should you take it when at genetic risk of cancer for mutation of gene TP53? Should you take it when diagnosed with Choroid Plexus Tumors? Should you take Eicosapentaenoic Acid supplements when diagnosed with Small Intestine Adenocarcinoma? Should you take it when on Ifosfamide treatment? Should you continue taking Eicosapentaenoic Acid supplements if you change your treatment from Ifosfamide to Temozolomide? So a general explanation like – it is natural or it increases immunity may not be acceptable and sufficient for choosing Eicosapentaenoic Acid. 

Cancer

Cancer remains an unsolved problem statement. The improved availability of personalized treatments and monitoring of cancer via blood and saliva have been significant factors to improve outcomes. The earlier the intervention – the better the influence on outcome. Genetic testing has the potential to assess cancer risk and susceptibility early. But besides regular monitoring in most cases there are no therapeutic intervention options available. After diagnosis with cancer such as Choroid Plexus Tumors or Small Intestine Adenocarcinoma, the treatments get personalized to tumor genomics and factors like staging of disease, age and gender. During cancer remission (after treatment cycle is complete) – monitoring is used for assessment of any relapse and accordingly decide next steps. A large majority of cancer patients and those at-risk do take nutritional supplements like Eicosapentaenoic Acid.

So the question is that are all genetic mutation risks and types of cancers to be considered as one when deciding the use of Eicosapentaenoic Acid? Are the biochemical pathway implications of genetic risk for cancer due to mutation of gene PALB2 the same as due to mutation of gene TP53? Are the implications of taking Eicosapentaenoic Acid supplements in Choroid Plexus Tumors the same as Small Intestine Adenocarcinoma? Is it one and the same if you are on treatment with Ifosfamide or on Temozolomide? 

Eicosapentaenoic Acid – A Nutritional Supplement

Eicosapentaenoic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid which is commonly found in the cold-water fishes including salmon, halibut, mackerel, tuna and cod liver, and also in fish oil. Eicosapentaenoic acid along with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is generally used for various health conditions such as heart diseases, irregular heartbeats, lung diseases, hot flashes, menstrual problems, asthma and hay fever.

The molecular pathways which are regulated by Eicosapentaenoic Acid include Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. These cellular pathways directly or indirectly regulate specific cancer molecular endpoints like growth, spread and death. Because of this biological regulation – for cancer nutrition, the right choice of supplements like Eicosapentaenoic Acid individually or in combination is an important decision to be made. When making decisions on the use of supplement Eicosapentaenoic Acid for cancer – do consider all these factors and explanations. Because just as true for cancer treatments – Eicosapentaenoic Acid use cannot be a one-size-fits-all decision for all types of cancers.

Choosing Eicosapentaenoic Acid Supplements for Your Cancer

The reason there is no easy way to answer the question “When should I avoid Eicosapentaenoic Acid for Cancer” is because “It Depends!”. Just like the same treatment does not work for every cancer patient, based on your individual context the Eicosapentaenoic Acid may be harmful or safe. Along with which cancer and associated genetics – the ongoing treatments, supplements, lifestyle habits, BMI and allergies are all factors deciding if Eicosapentaenoic Acid should be avoided or not and why.

1. Will Eicosapentaenoic Acid Supplements benefit Cancer Patients Choroid Plexus Tumors undergoing Ifosfamide treatment?

Choroid Plexus Tumors is characterized and driven by specific genetic mutations like TERT and TP53 leading to specific biochemical pathway changes. A cancer treatment like Ifosfamide works through a specific pathway mechanism of action. The goal is to have a good overlap between the treatment and cancer driving pathways for a personalized approach which is effective. In such a condition any food or nutritional supplement which has a contrary effect to the treatment or reduces the overlap should be avoided. As an example, Eicosapentaenoic Acid should be avoided for Choroid Plexus Tumors along with treatment of Ifosfamide. Eicosapentaenoic Acid impacts specific pathways which either promote drivers of the disease and/or nullify the treatment effect. Additionally, Eicosapentaenoic Acid supplements may have CYP3A4 interactions with Ifosfamide treatment and hence should be avoided by cancer patients undergoing this treatment. (Hsien-Tsung Yao et al, Life Sci., 2006; Pius S Fasinu et al, Front Oncol., 2019) Some of the factors which should be considered when choosing nutrition are type of cancer, treatments and supplements being taken currently (if any), age, gender, BMI, lifestyle and any genetic mutation information (if available).

2. Will Eicosapentaenoic Acid Supplements benefit Cancer Patients with Small Intestine Adenocarcinoma undergoing Temozolomide Treatment?

Small Intestine Adenocarcinoma is characterized and driven by specific genetic mutations like TP53 and KRAS leading to specific biochemical pathway changes. A cancer treatment like Temozolomide works through specific pathway mechanisms. The goal is to have a good overlap between the treatment and cancer driving pathways for a personalized approach. In such a condition any food or nutritional supplement which has a compatible effect to the treatment or reduces the overlap should be considered. As an example, Eicosapentaenoic Acid supplements should be considered for Small Intestine Adenocarcinoma along with treatment Temozolomide. Eicosapentaenoic Acid supplements impact specific pathways which either obstruct drivers of Small Intestine Adenocarcinoma and/or improve Temozolomide treatment effect. 

3. Are Eicosapentaenoic Acid Supplements Safe for Healthy Individuals with PALB2 Mutation Associated Genetic Risk?

Different companies offer panels of genes to be tested for assessing genetic risk to different cancers. These panels cover genes associated with cancers of the breast, ovary, uterus, prostate, and gastrointestinal system and others. Genetic testing of these genes may confirm a diagnosis and help guide treatment and management decisions. Identification of a disease-causing variant may also guide testing and diagnosis of at-risk relatives. PALB2 is one of the genes generally available in panels for cancer risk testing. 

PALB2 mutation causes biochemical pathways Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Stem Cell Signaling, Estrogen Signaling, Growth Factor Signaling and Angiogenesis to get impacted. These pathways are direct or indirect drivers of cancer molecular endpoints. Eicosapentaenoic Acid should be avoided when the genetic panel identifies mutation of PALB2 for Breast Cancer and Kidney Cancer. Eicosapentaenoic Acid impacts pathways Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Stem Cell Signaling and creates adverse effects with PALB2 and related conditions.

4. Are Eicosapentaenoic Acid Supplements Safe for Healthy Individuals with TP53 Mutation Associated Genetic Risk?

TP53 is one of the genes available in panels for cancer risk testing. TP53 mutation causes biochemical pathways Cell Cycle Checkpoints, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, Stem Cell Signaling, TGFB Signaling and Autophagy to get impacted. These pathways are direct or indirect drivers of cancer molecular endpoints. Consider taking Eicosapentaenoic Acid supplements when the genetic panel identifies mutation in TP53 for Breast Cancer and Lung Cancer. Eicosapentaenoic Acid impacts pathways/processes like Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and creates a supportive effect in those with TP53 mutation and related conditions.

* Other Factors are also included like BMI, Treatments, Lifestyle Habits

In Conclusion

The two most important things to remember are that cancer treatments and nutrition are never the same for everyone. Nutrition, which includes food and nutritional supplements like Eicosapentaenoic Acid, is an effective tool which can be controlled by you, while facing cancer.

What food you eat and which supplements you take is a decision you make. Your decision should include consideration of the cancer gene mutations, which cancer, ongoing treatments and supplements, any allergies, lifestyle information, weight, height and habits.

The nutrition planning for cancer from addon is not based on internet searches. It automates the decision making for you based on molecular science implemented by our scientists and software engineers. Irrespective of whether you care to understand the underlying biochemical molecular pathways or not - for nutrition planning for cancer that understanding is needed.

Get started NOW with your nutrition planning by answering questions on the name of cancer, genetic mutations, ongoing treatments and supplements, any allergies, habits, lifestyle, age group and gender.

Cancer patients often have to deal with different chemotherapy side effects which affect their quality of life and look out for alternative therapies for cancer. Taking the right nutrition and supplements based on scientific considerations (avoiding guesswork and random selection) is the best natural remedy for cancer and treatment related side-effects.

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