Highlights
No two cancers are the same, nor are they treated the same, and neither should nutrition be the same for everyone. Nutrition includes foods like pulses, vegetables, fruits, nuts, oils, herbs and spices. Also nutrition includes supplements which are high concentrations of foods or high concentrations of individual ingredients found in foods. For cancers like Astrocytoma when undergoing chemotherapy or when you determine you have a genetic risk for developing Astrocytoma because of NF1 and EGFR gene mutations, a very important question is “What foods should I avoid and what foods are recommended specifically for me?”. The other related question is “What nutritional supplements should I avoid?”.
There is no one answer to this question for cancers such as Astrocytoma which can be found through internet searches. The answer to the question is “It Depends” because the nutrition plan needs to be personalized for you. Nutrition should depend on the cancer indication, genetic information, adult or pediatric, staging, primary or secondary, advanced, metastatic, relapsed or refractory, ongoing treatments if any, nutritional supplements being taken, age and factors like gender, weight, height, lifestyle, allergies and food preferences.
In short – the process to answer questions like “Should I Avoid eating fruit Strawberry” or “Include fruit Bayberry in my diet” or “Should I reduce consumption of vegetable Spinach” or “Can I take Bayberry and Myricetin supplements” is not as simple as internet searches. The process is very complex and answers are based on knowhow of genetics, action of treatments, active ingredients in foods and their associated biological action. Finally the answer to the nutrition question needs to be personalized for you.
RECOMMENDATION: PERSONALIZE YOUR FOODS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO ASTROCYTOMA, TREATMENTS, GENETIC INFORMATION, AND OTHER CONDITIONS.
The overall objective of personalized nutrition for Astrocytoma is to minimize foods and nutritional supplements which have adverse interactions with cancer molecular drivers and ongoing treatments. And identify those foods and supplements which have a beneficial action. Whenever there are changes in treatments or diagnosis – it is important to remember that your foods and supplements need re-evaluation. And the answers to the nutrition question could be different based on the new context.
RECOMMENDATION: UPDATE YOUR NUTRITION FOR ASTROCYTOMA, WHEN TREATMENTS, DISEASE STATUS AND OTHER CONDITIONS CHANGE.
About Astrocytoma
cBioPortal is one source of collection of cancer patient data from clinical trials across 350 plus cancer indications. The data from each clinical trial includes the clinical trial name and study details like number of patients, ages, gender, ethnicity, treatments, tumor site, genetic aberrations found and analysis of all the data. The cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics was originally developed at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). The public cBioPortal site is hosted by the Center for Molecular Oncology at MSK – https://www.cbioportal.org/about.
Following key highlights are derived from clinical data for Astrocytoma from cBioPortal. The patients enrolled in the studies for Astrocytoma are in ages between 6 to 16 with an average age of 12. 55.3% of males and 44.7% of females were the distribution of gender in these clinical studies. From a patient sample size of 41; the top genes with mutations and other abnormalities for Astrocytoma include genes NF1, TERT, EGFR, PIK3CG and PIK3CA. The occurrence frequency distribution for these genes respectively is 5.6%, 5.6%, 5.6%, 5.6% and 5.6%. These tumor genetic details of Astrocytoma are mapped to molecular biochemical pathway drivers of cancer thereby providing definition of characteristic features of Astrocytoma.
Astrocytoma are cancers that originate in astrocytes. Astrocytes are glial cells that provide structure and support to the neurons in the brain. Astrocytoma range from benign tumors (Grade 1) to very malignant tumors (Grade IV) which are classified as gliomas. Astrocytoma grade 1 has a 5-year survival rate of over 96%, while grade 4 tumors have a poor prognosis and a median survival of about 12-15 months. Common symptoms of astrocytoma include persistent headaches, double or blurred vision, speech problems, decreased cognitive abilities, grasp or limb weakness, new seizures. Treatment modalities for astrocytoma include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy with temozolomide, steroids to relieve symptoms due to brain swelling, anti-angiogenic therapy, tumor treating electric fields and antiseizure drugs. Novel therapies for astrocytoma that are in clinical development include targeted therapy, immunotherapy and virus therapy. The right nutrition (foods and natural supplements) as supportive care to complement the oncologist prescribed treatment plan can help improve patients’ well-being. (Ref: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559042/ ; https://www.aans.org/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Astrocytoma-Tumors; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17863-astrocytoma )
Significance of Nutrition for Astrocytoma
All foods and nutritional supplements consist of a collection of one or more active chemical ingredients in different proportions and quantities. The action of some active ingredients in a food can have adverse interactions while other active ingredients in the same food may be supportive from the context of Astrocytoma. Hence the same food has good and not-so-good actions and analysis of combined effect will be needed to come up with a personalized nutrition plan.
For example Strawberry includes active ingredients Ellagic Acid, Lupeol, Cianidanol, Oleic Acid, Beta-sitosterol and others. And Bayberry contains active ingredients Myricetin, Lupeol, Linalool, Caffeic Acid, Gallic Acid and others. It is likely that some of these active ingredients of the same food could have opposing effects and hence it is recommended to identify recommended foods based on analysis of all high quantity ingredients contained in foods.
For cancers like Astrocytoma, activation or inhibition of selected biochemical pathways like DNA Repair, Hypoxia, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, Inositol Phosphate Signaling plays an important role in driving cancer growth. Similarly different treatments work via different molecular actions which should never be canceled out by your foods and supplements. The foods and nutritional supplements contain different active ingredients each of which have a specific molecular action on different biochemical pathways. Hence, eating some foods and nutritional supplements would be recommended with a specific treatment of Astrocytoma, while eating some other foods and supplements may not be recommended.
One common mistake when finding foods to eat or not – is to consider only a few active ingredients contained in foods based on internet searches and ignore the rest. Because different active ingredients contained in foods may have opposing effects on relevant biochemical pathways – it is recommended to consider all the high quantity active ingredients that are present in significant and much larger than trace amounts in the food.
RECOMMENDATION: TO FIND RECOMMENDED AND NON-RECOMMENDED FOODS FOR ASTROCYTOMA – CONSIDER HIGH QUANTITY ACTIVE INGREDIENTS CONTAINED IN FOODS.
Foods for Astrocytoma undergoing chemotherapy treatment
In Astrocytoma – the genes NF1, TERT, EGFR, PIK3CG and PIK3CA have high occurrences of genomic abnormalities. Not all of these genes necessarily are relevant for cancer – though they have been reported. Some of these genes directly or indirectly end up manipulating different cancer related biochemical biological pathways. Some of the pathways which are relevant drivers for Astrocytoma are DNA Repair, Hypoxia, Mismatch Repair and others. Capecitabine is one of the chemotherapies used for cancer treatment. The intent of treatment is to negate or cancel out effects of biochemical pathway drivers DNA Repair, Hypoxia, Mismatch Repair so as to reduce disease progression and inhibit growth. Those foods whose combined action of active ingredients support treatment action and do not enhance disease drivers are recommended foods and supplements which will be included in personalized nutrition. And similarly – those foods whose combined action of active ingredients is not supportive of treatment action but end up promoting disease drives will not be recommended in your personalized nutrition plan.
RECOMMENDATION: AVOID SUPPLEMENTS AND FOODS WHICH ARE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF CANCER TREATMENT ACTION AND RATHER ENHANCE DISEASE DRIVERS.
Eat more pulses, Common Pea or Pigeon Pea?
Pulses are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Common Pea are Daidzein, Lupeol, Oleic Acid, Beta-sitosterol, Vitamin C among others. While the active ingredients contained in Pigeon Pea are Oleic Acid, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid, Genistein, Linoleic Acid and others.
Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, NFKB Signaling and Hypoxia. Vitamin C has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, MYC Signaling and Hypoxia.
Genistein can manipulate biochemical pathways DNA Repair. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.
When treating Astrocytoma with chemotherapy Capecitabine – Foods like Common Pea are recommended compared to Pigeon Pea. This is because the active ingredients Genistein and Folic Acid in Pigeon Pea interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Beta-sitosterol and Vitamin C contained in Common Pea support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.
RECOMMENDATION: COMMON PEA IS RECOMMENDED OVER PIGEON PEA FOR ASTROCYTOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY CAPECITABINE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.
Eat more vegetables, Carrot or Spinach?
Vegetables are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Carrot are Lupeol, Vitamin E, Lycopene, Linalool, Oleic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Spinach are Apigenin, Oleic Acid, Beta-sitosterol, Quercetin, Vitamin C and others.
Gamma-linolenic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, NFKB Signaling and Hypoxia. Eugenol has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, MYC Signaling and NFKB Signaling.
Apigenin can manipulate biochemical pathways DNA Repair. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.
When treating Astrocytoma with chemotherapy Capecitabine – Foods like Carrot are recommended compared to Spinach. This is because the active ingredients Apigenin and Folic Acid in Spinach interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Gamma-linolenic Acid and Eugenol contained in Carrot support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.
RECOMMENDATION: CARROT IS RECOMMENDED OVER SPINACH FOR ASTROCYTOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY CAPECITABINE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.
Eat more fruits, Bayberry or Strawberry?
Fruits are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Bayberry are Myricetin, Lupeol, Linalool, Caffeic Acid, Gallic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Strawberry are Ellagic Acid, Lupeol, Cianidanol, Oleic Acid, Beta-sitosterol and others.
Beta-caryophyllene can manipulate biochemical pathways NFKB Signaling, Hypoxia and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Myricetin has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, NFKB Signaling and Hypoxia.
Fisetin can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling. Ellagic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling. And so on.
When treating Astrocytoma with chemotherapy Capecitabine – Foods like Bayberry are recommended compared to Strawberry. This is because the active ingredients Fisetin and Ellagic Acid in Strawberry interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Beta-caryophyllene and Myricetin contained in Bayberry support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.
RECOMMENDATION: BAYBERRY IS RECOMMENDED OVER STRAWBERRY FOR ASTROCYTOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY CAPECITABINE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.
Eat more nuts, Pecan Nut or Brazil Nut?
Nuts are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Pecan Nut are Cianidanol, Vitamin E, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Delphinidin among others. While the active ingredients contained in Brazil Nut are Vitamin E, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Lecithin, Folic Acid and others.
Cianidanol can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, NFKB Signaling and Hypoxia. Vitamin E has biological action on biochemical pathways DNA Repair, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and NFKB Signaling.
Lecithin can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, NFKB Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.
When treating Astrocytoma with chemotherapy Capecitabine – Foods like Pecan Nut are recommended compared to Brazil Nut. This is because the active ingredients Lecithin and Folic Acid in Brazil Nut interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Cianidanol and Vitamin E contained in Pecan Nut support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.
RECOMMENDATION: PECAN NUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER BRAZIL NUT FOR ASTROCYTOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY CAPECITABINE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.
Foods for Genetic Risk of Astrocytoma
One of the ways to assess risk of cancer is by checking for presence of genetic abnormalities in a set of genes. There is prior information on a list of genes whose mutations and other aberrations can play a role in risk to different cancers. NF1 and EGFR are two genes whose abnormalities are risk factors for Astrocytoma. In such a cancer risk situation – while there are typically no treatments which a physician can prescribe – the various biochemical pathways which are potentially molecular drivers of Astrocytoma can be used as a guide for coming up with a recommended personalized nutrition plan. For Astrocytoma gene NF1 has causative impact on biological pathways like MAPK Signaling, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and RAS-RAF Signaling. And EGFR has a causative impact on biological pathways like Cytoskeletal Dynamics, Growth Factor Signaling and Antigen Presentation. Foods and nutritional supplements which have molecular action to cancel out biochemical pathways effects of genes like NF1 and EGFR should be included in a personalized nutrition plan. And those foods and supplements which promote the effects of genes NF1 and EGFR should be avoided.
Eat more pulses, Scarlet Bean or Soy Bean?
The active ingredients contained in Scarlet Bean are Genistein, Vitamin C, Beta-sitosterol, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Soy Bean are Quercetin, Genistein, Vitamin E, Lupeol, Vitamin C and others.
Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways Apoptosis, Growth Factor Signaling and MYC Signaling. Beta-sitosterol has biological action on biochemical pathways P53 Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.
Aescin can manipulate biochemical pathways Cell Cycle Checkpoints. Lecithin has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.
For genetic risk of Astrocytoma due to abnormalities in genes NF1 and EGFR – Foods like Scarlet Bean are recommended compared to Soy Bean. This is because the active ingredients Aescin and Lecithin in Soy Bean further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Vitamin C and Beta-sitosterol contained in Scarlet Bean together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.
RECOMMENDATION: SCARLET BEAN IS RECOMMENDED OVER SOY BEAN FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF ASTROCYTOMA DUE TO GENES NF1 AND EGFR
Eat more vegetables, Cassava or Squash?
The active ingredients contained in Cassava are Vitamin C, Beta-sitosterol, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Squash are Ellagic Acid, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Beta-sitosterol, Linolenic Acid and others.
Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways Apoptosis, Growth Factor Signaling and MYC Signaling. Beta-sitosterol has biological action on biochemical pathways P53 Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.
Ellagic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling. Vitamin A has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.
For genetic risk of Astrocytoma due to abnormalities in genes NF1 and EGFR – Foods like Cassava are recommended compared to Squash. This is because the active ingredients Ellagic Acid and Vitamin A in Squash further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Vitamin C and Beta-sitosterol contained in Cassava together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.
RECOMMENDATION: CASSAVA IS RECOMMENDED OVER SQUASH FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF ASTROCYTOMA DUE TO GENES NF1 AND EGFR
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.
Eat more fruits, Feijoa or Naranjilla?
The active ingredients contained in Feijoa are Lycopene, Vitamin C, Casuarinin, Folic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Naranjilla are Zeaxanthin, Beta-carotene, Vitamin A and others.
Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways Apoptosis, Growth Factor Signaling and MYC Signaling. Lycopene has biological action on biochemical pathways P53 Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.
Beta-carotene can manipulate biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Vitamin A has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.
For genetic risk of Astrocytoma due to abnormalities in genes NF1 and EGFR – Foods like Feijoa are recommended compared to Naranjilla. This is because the active ingredients Beta-carotene and Vitamin A in Naranjilla further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Vitamin C and Lycopene contained in Feijoa together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.
RECOMMENDATION: FEIJOA IS RECOMMENDED OVER NARANJILLA FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF ASTROCYTOMA DUE TO GENES NF1 AND EGFR
Eat more nuts, Almond or Acorn?
The active ingredients contained in Almond are Quercetin, Vitamin E, Beta-sitosterol, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Acorn are Quercetin, Vitamin C, Beta-sitosterol, Beta-carotene, Vitamin B3 and others.
Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways Apoptosis, MYC Signaling and P53 Signaling. Quercetin has biological action on biochemical pathways Growth Factor Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.
Beta-carotene can manipulate biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Vitamin A has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.
For genetic risk of Astrocytoma due to abnormalities in genes NF1 and EGFR – Foods like Almond are recommended compared to Acorn. This is because the active ingredients Beta-carotene and Vitamin A in Acorn further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Beta-sitosterol and Quercetin contained in Almond together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.
RECOMMENDATION: ALMOND IS RECOMMENDED OVER ACORN FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF ASTROCYTOMA DUE TO GENES NF1 AND EGFR
In Summary
An important thing to remember is that cancer treatments may not be the same for everyone – and neither should your nutrition be. Nutrition which includes food and nutritional supplements is a very effective tool controlled by you.
“What should I eat?” is the most frequently asked question in the context of cancer. The answer calculation is complex and depends upon cancer type, underlying genomics, current treatments, any allergies, lifestyle information, and factors like BMI.
The addon personalized nutrition plan recommends foods and supplements which minimizes adverse nutrition interactions and encourages support to treatments.
You can get started NOW and design a personalized nutrition plan for Astrocytoma by answering questions on type of cancer, current treatments, supplements, allergies, age group, gender, and lifestyle information.
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.
References
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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.