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What Foods are Recommended for Cancer?
is a very common question. Personalized Nutrition Plans are foods and supplements which are personalized to a cancer indication, genes, any treatments and lifestyle conditions.

Foods for Breast Carcinoma!

Aug 4, 2023

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Introduction

Foods for Breast Carcinoma 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.

Breast carcinoma, also known as breast cancer, is a malignant tumor that develops in the breast tissue, and the most common cancer diagnosed in women. Early stage breast cancer is curable while breast cancer that has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body has poor prognosis. The incidence of breast cancer increased with age with a median age of breast cancer diagnosis being above 50 years. Other risk factors for breast carcinoma include family history, genetic susceptibility due to presence of germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, alcohol consumption, obesity. Symptoms of breast carcinoma can vary but may include the presence of a lump, changes in breast shape or size, nipple discharge, or skin changes. Treatment options for breast carcinoma may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies tailored to the specific subtype of breast cancer. Classification of breast carcinoma is based on various factors, such as hormone receptor status and HER2 expression. On the basis of expression of Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2/neu, breast cancer is classified as either: 1. Hormone receptor positive; 2. HER2/neu positive; or 3. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) – ER, PR, HER2 negative. Regular breast self-examinations and routine screenings can aid in the early detection of breast carcinoma.



For Breast Carcinoma 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 Breast Carcinoma 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 Breast Carcinoma?

For example does it matter if vegetable Globe Artichoke is consumed more compared to Napa Cabbage? Does it make any difference if fruit Pineapple is preferred over Purple Mangosteen? Also if similar choices are made for nuts/seeds like Butternut over Cashew Nut and for pulses like Broad Bean over Catjang Pea. And if what I eat matters – then how does one identify foods which are recommended for Breast Carcinoma and is it the same answer for everyone with the same diagnosis or genetic risk?

Yes! Foods you eat matters for Breast Carcinoma!

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

All cancers like Breast Carcinoma can be characterized by a unique set of biochemical pathways - the signature pathways of Breast Carcinoma. Biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle, Extracellular Matrix Remodelling, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, MAPK Signaling are part of the signature definition of Breast Carcinoma.

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 Pineapple contains active ingredients Quercetin, Curcumin, Lycopene, Lupeol, Phloretin. And Purple Mangosteen contains active ingredients Apigenin, Curcumin, Myricetin, Lycopene, Lupeol and possibly others.

A common mistake made when deciding and choosing foods to eat for Breast Carcinoma – 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 Breast Carcinoma.

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

Skills Needed for Nutrition Personalization for Breast Carcinoma?

Personalized nutrition for cancers like Breast Carcinoma 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 Breast Carcinoma 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.

Foods to Eat After Cancer Diagnosis!

No two cancers are the same. Go beyond the common nutrition guidelines for everyone and make personalized decisions about food and supplements with confidence.

Characteristics of cancers like Breast Carcinoma

All cancers like Breast Carcinoma can be characterized by a unique set of biochemical pathways – the signature pathways of Breast Carcinoma. Biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle, Extracellular Matrix Remodelling, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, MAPK Signaling are part of the signature definition of Breast Carcinoma. Each individual’s cancer genetics can be different and hence their specific cancer signature could be unique.

The treatments which are effective for Breast Carcinoma 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 Breast Carcinoma when taking cancer treatment Paclitaxel, 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.

TP53, PIK3CA, MUC16, RYR1 and MAP3K1 are the top ranked reported genes for Breast Carcinoma. TP53 is reported in 2.2 % of the representative patients across all clinical trials. And PIK3CA is reported in 1.7 %. The combined population patient data cover ages from 15 to 97. 0.6 % of the patient data are identified as men. The Breast Carcinoma 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.

Foods for Breast Carcinoma!

Food and Supplements for Breast Carcinoma

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 GLOBE ARTICHOKE or NAPA CABBAGE?

Vegetable Globe Artichoke contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Myricetin, Lupeol, Phloretin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Extracellular Matrix Remodelling, Glucocorticoid Signaling, Cell Cycle and NFKB Signaling and others. Globe Artichoke is recommended for Breast Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Paclitaxel. This is because Globe Artichoke modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Paclitaxel.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in vegetable Napa Cabbage are Curcumin, Lupeol, Phloretin, Genistein, Isoliquiritigenin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Estrogen Signaling and others. Napa Cabbage is not recommended for Breast Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Paclitaxel because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

VEGETABLE GLOBE ARTICHOKE IS RECOMMENDED OVER NAPA CABBAGE FOR Breast Carcinoma AND TREATMENT Paclitaxel.

Choose Fruit PURPLE MANGOSTEEN or PINEAPPLE?

Fruit Purple Mangosteen contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Myricetin, Lycopene, Lupeol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Extracellular Matrix Remodelling, RAS-RAF Signaling, Cell Cycle and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Purple Mangosteen is recommended for Breast Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Paclitaxel. This is because Purple Mangosteen modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Paclitaxel.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in fruit Pineapple are Quercetin, Curcumin, Lycopene, Lupeol, Phloretin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Estrogen Signaling, Carbohydrate Metabolism and Growth Factor Signaling and others. Pineapple is not recommended for Breast Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Paclitaxel because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

FRUIT PURPLE MANGOSTEEN IS RECOMMENDED OVER PINEAPPLE FOR Breast Carcinoma AND TREATMENT Paclitaxel.

Choose Nut BUTTERNUT or CASHEW NUT?

Butternut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Myricetin, Lycopene, Lupeol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Extracellular Matrix Remodelling, RAS-RAF Signaling, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and Apoptosis and others. Butternut is recommended for Breast Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Paclitaxel. This is because Butternut modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Paclitaxel.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in Cashew Nut are Quercetin, Curcumin, Myricetin, Lupeol, Phloretin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Estrogen Signaling and Heat Stress Response and others. Cashew Nut is not recommended for Breast Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Paclitaxel because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

BUTTERNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER CASHEW NUT FOR Breast Carcinoma AND TREATMENT Paclitaxel.

For Individuals with Genetic Risk of Cancer

The question asked by individuals who have genetic risk of Breast Carcinoma 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 WILD CARROT or TURNIP?

Vegetable Wild Carrot contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Quercetin, Lupeol, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Angiogenesis, RAS-RAF Signaling, Cell Cycle and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Wild Carrot is recommended for risk of Breast Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is MAP3K1. This is because Wild Carrot increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in vegetable Turnip are Curcumin, Quercetin, Ellagic Acid, Indole-3-carbinol, Lupeol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and DNA Repair and others. Turnip is not recommended when risk of Breast Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is MAP3K1 because it increases the signature pathways of it.

VEGETABLE WILD CARROT IS RECOMMENDED OVER TURNIP FOR MAP3K1 GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

Choose Fruit NANCE or PUMMELO?

Fruit Nance contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like RAS-RAF Signaling, Cell Cycle, Insulin Signaling and P53 Signaling and others. Nance is recommended for risk of Breast Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is MAP3K1. This is because Nance increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in fruit Pummelo are Apigenin, Curcumin, Quercetin, Lupeol, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Insulin Signaling and DNA Repair and others. Pummelo is not recommended when risk of Breast Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is MAP3K1 because it increases the signature pathways of it.

FRUIT NANCE IS RECOMMENDED OVER PUMMELO FOR MAP3K1 GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

Choose Nut COMMON HAZELNUT or PILI NUT?

Common Hazelnut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Quercetin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like RAS-RAF Signaling, Cell Cycle, Insulin Signaling and P53 Signaling and others. Common Hazelnut is recommended for risk of Breast Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is MAP3K1. This is because Common Hazelnut increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in Pili Nut are Apigenin, Curcumin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Small Molecule Transport, Extracellular Matrix Remodelling and Insulin Signaling and others. Pili Nut is not recommended when risk of Breast Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is MAP3K1 because it increases the signature pathways of it.

COMMON HAZELNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER PILI NUT FOR MAP3K1 GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.


In Conclusion

Foods and Supplements chosen are important decisions for cancers like Breast Carcinoma. Breast Carcinoma 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 Breast Carcinoma, 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 Globe Artichoke 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 Breast Carcinoma?”. The addon multi-disciplinary team includes cancer physicians, clinical scientists, software engineers and data scientists.


Personalized Nutrition for Cancer!

Cancer changes with time. Customize and modify your nutrition based on cancer indication, treatments, lifestyle, food preferences, allergies and other factors.

References

Scientifically Reviewed by: Dr. Cogle

Christopher R. Cogle, M.D. is a tenured professor at the University of Florida, Chief Medical Officer of Florida Medicaid, and Director of the Florida Health Policy Leadership Academy at the Bob Graham Center for Public Service.

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