Which Foods are Recommended for Neuroblastoma?

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 Neuroblastoma when undergoing chemotherapy or when you determine you have a genetic risk for developing Neuroblastoma because of ALK and PTPN11 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 Neuroblastoma 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 Gooseberry” or “Include fruit Partridgeberry in my diet” or “Should I reduce consumption of vegetable Purslane” or “Can I take Thunder God and Neem Extract 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 NEUROBLASTOMA, TREATMENTS, GENETIC INFORMATION, AND OTHER CONDITIONS.

The overall objective of personalized nutrition for Neuroblastoma 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 NEUROBLASTOMA, WHEN TREATMENTS, DISEASE STATUS AND OTHER CONDITIONS CHANGE.

About Neuroblastoma

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 Neuroblastoma from cBioPortal. The patients enrolled in the studies for Neuroblastoma are in ages between 1 to 24 with an average age of 4. 57.3% of males and 42.7% of females were the distribution of gender in these clinical studies. From a patient sample size of 1793; the top genes with mutations and other abnormalities for Neuroblastoma include genes ALK, MUC16, PTPN11, ATRX and RYR1. The occurrence frequency distribution for these genes respectively is 5.5%, 3.7%, 1.7%, 1.5% and 1.5%. These tumor genetic details of Neuroblastoma are mapped to molecular biochemical pathway drivers of cancer thereby providing definition of characteristic features of Neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma is a rare cancer usually affecting children. It begins in the early forms of the cells that make up the nerves in the sympathetic nervous system. Neuroblastoma is diagnosed in 600-700 cases per year in the United States, with a median age of diagnosis at 17 months and greater than 90% of the patients are diagnosed before 5 years of age. Diagnosis of neuroblastoma is extremely rare in adults. Symptoms of neuroblastoma could include a painless lump in the abdomen, pelvis, or neck, swelling of the upper chest, neck and face; swollen legs; chest pain; weight loss; persistent cough; back pain; leg weakness, numbness or paralysis; skin lesions or nodules which may be blue or purple in color. 5-year survival is high in the low-risk to intermediate-risk groups between 90-95% while children in the high-risk group neuroblastoma have a 5-year survival of about 40-50%. Treatment of neuroblastoma may include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, and this can be further supported by the right personalized nutrition (foods and supplements) aligned to the treatment, that can be suitably given to the children to enhance their well-being. (Ref: Suzuki M, et al., Int. J Cancer, 2019; https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/neuroblastoma#definition)

Significance of Nutrition for Neuroblastoma

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 Neuroblastoma. 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 Gooseberry includes active ingredients Beta-sitosterol, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid, Gallic Acid, Rutin and others. And Partridgeberry contains active ingredients Resveratrol, Beta-sitosterol, Stigmasterol 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 Neuroblastoma, activation or inhibition of selected biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle, Cytoskeletal Dynamics, Extracellular Matrix Remodelling, Focal Adhesion 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 Neuroblastoma, 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 NEUROBLASTOMA – CONSIDER HIGH QUANTITY ACTIVE INGREDIENTS CONTAINED IN FOODS.

Foods for Neuroblastoma undergoing chemotherapy treatment

In Neuroblastoma – the genes ALK, MUC16, PTPN11, ATRX and RYR1 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 Neuroblastoma are Cell Cycle, Cytoskeletal Dynamics, Adherens junction and others. Vincristine is one of the chemotherapies used for cancer treatment. The intent of treatment is to negate or cancel out effects of biochemical pathway drivers Cell Cycle, Cytoskeletal Dynamics, Adherens junction 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 Common Bean?

Pulses are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Common Pea are Daidzein, Lupeol, Genistein, Beta-sitosterol, Vitamin C among others. While the active ingredients contained in Common Bean are Apigenin, Genistein, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid, Esculin and others.

Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, NFKB Signaling and Apoptosis. Vitamin C has biological action on biochemical pathways Carbohydrate Metabolism, Adherens junction and Cell Cycle.

Vitamin A can manipulate biochemical pathways Chemokine Signaling. Apigenin has biological action on biochemical pathways Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, Vitamin D Signaling and Oxidative Stress. And so on.

When treating Neuroblastoma with chemotherapy Vincristine – Foods like Common Pea are recommended compared to Common Bean. This is because the active ingredients Vitamin A and Apigenin in Common Bean 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 COMMON BEAN FOR NEUROBLASTOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY VINCRISTINE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Eat more vegetables, Cassava or Purslane?

Vegetables are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Cassava are Beta-sitosterol, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Vitamin A among others. While the active ingredients contained in Purslane are Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Vitamin A, Linoleic Acid and others.

Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, Carbohydrate Metabolism and Apoptosis. Beta-sitosterol has biological action on biochemical pathways NFKB Signaling, Adherens junction and Cell Cycle.

Vitamin A can manipulate biochemical pathways Chemokine Signaling. Citric Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. And so on.

When treating Neuroblastoma with chemotherapy Vincristine – Foods like Cassava are recommended compared to Purslane. This is because the active ingredients Vitamin A and Citric Acid in Purslane interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Vitamin C and Beta-sitosterol contained in Cassava support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.

RECOMMENDATION: CASSAVA IS RECOMMENDED OVER PURSLANE FOR NEUROBLASTOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY VINCRISTINE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Eat more fruits, Partridgeberry or Gooseberry?

Fruits are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Partridgeberry are Resveratrol, Beta-sitosterol, Stigmasterol among others. While the active ingredients contained in Gooseberry are Beta-sitosterol, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid, Gallic Acid, Rutin and others.

Resveratrol can manipulate biochemical pathways Carbohydrate Metabolism, NFKB Signaling and Apoptosis. Beta-sitosterol has biological action on biochemical pathways Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, Adherens junction and Cell Cycle.

Gallic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways Vitamin D Signaling and Oxidative Stress. Citric Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. And so on.

When treating Neuroblastoma with chemotherapy Vincristine – Foods like Partridgeberry are recommended compared to Gooseberry. This is because the active ingredients Gallic Acid and Citric Acid in Gooseberry interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Resveratrol and Beta-sitosterol contained in Partridgeberry support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.

RECOMMENDATION: PARTRIDGEBERRY IS RECOMMENDED OVER GOOSEBERRY FOR NEUROBLASTOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY VINCRISTINE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Eat more nuts, Walnut or Acorn?

Nuts are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Walnut are Ellagic Acid, Quercetin, Betulinic Acid, Vitamin E, Hyperoside among others. While the active ingredients contained in Acorn are Quercetin, Beta-sitosterol, Vitamin C, Gallic Acid, Beta-carotene and others.

Ellagic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways Carbohydrate Metabolism, NFKB Signaling and Apoptosis. Hyperoside has biological action on biochemical pathways Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, Chemokine Signaling and Cell Cycle.

Quercetin can manipulate biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. Gallic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways Vitamin D Signaling and Oxidative Stress. And so on.

When treating Neuroblastoma with chemotherapy Vincristine – Foods like Walnut are recommended compared to Acorn. This is because the active ingredients Quercetin and Gallic Acid in Acorn interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Ellagic Acid and Hyperoside contained in Walnut support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.

RECOMMENDATION: WALNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER ACORN FOR NEUROBLASTOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY VINCRISTINE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Foods for Genetic Risk of Neuroblastoma

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. ALK and PTPN11 are two genes whose abnormalities are risk factors for Neuroblastoma. 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 Neuroblastoma can be used as a guide for coming up with a recommended personalized nutrition plan. For Neuroblastoma gene ALK has causative impact on biological pathways like Growth Factor Signaling, JAK-STAT Signaling and Immune Checkpoints. And PTPN11 has a causative impact on biological pathways like Angiogenesis and C-type Lectin Receptor Signaling. Foods and nutritional supplements which have molecular action to cancel out biochemical pathways effects of genes like ALK and PTPN11 should be included in a personalized nutrition plan. And those foods and supplements which promote the effects of genes ALK and PTPN11 should be avoided.

Eat more pulses, Scarlet Bean or Hyacinth Bean?

The active ingredients contained in Scarlet Bean are Oleic Acid, Vitamin C, Stigmasterol, Linolenic Acid, Genistein among others. While the active ingredients contained in Hyacinth Bean are Vitamin C, Genistein, Palmitic Acid, Myristic Acid, Folic Acid and others.

Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, MAPK Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Stigmasterol has biological action on biochemical pathways JAK-STAT Signaling, MYC Signaling and MAPK Signaling.

Palmitic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways DNA Repair, MYC Signaling and MAPK Signaling. Myristic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways RAS-RAF Signaling, MYC Signaling and MAPK Signaling. And so on.

For genetic risk of Neuroblastoma due to abnormalities in genes ALK and PTPN11 – Foods like Scarlet Bean are recommended compared to Hyacinth Bean. This is because the active ingredients Palmitic Acid and Myristic Acid in Hyacinth Bean further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Vitamin C and Stigmasterol contained in Scarlet Bean together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.

RECOMMENDATION: SCARLET BEAN IS RECOMMENDED OVER HYACINTH BEAN FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF NEUROBLASTOMA DUE TO GENES ALK AND PTPN11

Eat more vegetables, Brussels Sprout or Endive?

The active ingredients contained in Brussels Sprout are Oleic Acid, Brassinin, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid, Sulforaphane among others. While the active ingredients contained in Endive are Quercetin, Kaempferol, Oleic Acid, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid and others.

Brassinin can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, JAK-STAT Signaling and MAPK Signaling. Vitamin C has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and RAS-RAF Signaling.

Quercetin can manipulate biochemical pathways DNA Repair. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways JAK-STAT Signaling, MYC Signaling and MAPK Signaling. And so on.

For genetic risk of Neuroblastoma due to abnormalities in genes ALK and PTPN11 – Foods like Brussels Sprout are recommended compared to Endive. This is because the active ingredients Quercetin and Folic Acid in Endive further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Brassinin and Vitamin C contained in Brussels Sprout together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.

RECOMMENDATION: BRUSSELS SPROUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER ENDIVE FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF NEUROBLASTOMA DUE TO GENES ALK AND PTPN11

Eat more fruits, Orange or Huckleberry?

The active ingredients contained in Orange are D-limonene, Modified Citrus Pectin, Linalool, Oleic Acid, Vicenin 2 among others. While the active ingredients contained in Huckleberry are Quercetin, Resveratrol, Chlorogenic Acid, Caffeic Acid, Vitamin C and others.

D-limonene can manipulate biochemical pathways Growth Factor Signaling, MYC Signaling and MAPK Signaling. Vitamin C has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and RAS-RAF Signaling.

Quercetin can manipulate biochemical pathways DNA Repair. Pelargonidin has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.

For genetic risk of Neuroblastoma due to abnormalities in genes ALK and PTPN11 – Foods like Orange are recommended compared to Huckleberry. This is because the active ingredients Quercetin and Pelargonidin in Huckleberry further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients D-limonene and Vitamin C contained in Orange together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.

RECOMMENDATION: ORANGE IS RECOMMENDED OVER HUCKLEBERRY FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF NEUROBLASTOMA DUE TO GENES ALK AND PTPN11

Eat more nuts, Pine Nut or Brazil Nut?

The active ingredients contained in Pine Nut are Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Vitamin E, Beta-sitosterol, Linoleic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Brazil Nut are Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Vitamin E, Lecithin, Folic Acid and others.

Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Vitamin K has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.

Lecithin can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, JAK-STAT Signaling and MAPK Signaling. Vitamin E has biological action on biochemical pathways DNA Repair. And so on.

For genetic risk of Neuroblastoma due to abnormalities in genes ALK and PTPN11 – Foods like Pine Nut are recommended compared to Brazil Nut. This is because the active ingredients Lecithin and Vitamin E in Brazil Nut further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Beta-sitosterol and Vitamin K contained in Pine Nut together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.

RECOMMENDATION: PINE NUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER BRAZIL NUT FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF NEUROBLASTOMA DUE TO GENES ALK AND PTPN11

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 Neuroblastoma 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.

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