Which Foods are Recommended for Ependymoma?

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 Ependymoma when undergoing chemotherapy or when you determine you have a genetic risk for developing Ependymoma because of PIK3C3 and FGFR1 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 Ependymoma 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 Plum” or “Include fruit Watermelon in my diet” or “Should I reduce consumption of vegetable Bell Pepper” or “Can I take Cordyceps and Sumac 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 EPENDYMOMA, TREATMENTS, GENETIC INFORMATION, AND OTHER CONDITIONS.

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

About Ependymoma

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 Ependymoma from cBioPortal. The patients enrolled in the studies for Ependymoma are in ages between 1 to 70 with an average age of 7. 63.8% of males and 36.2% of females were the distribution of gender in these clinical studies. From a patient sample size of 152; the top genes with mutations and other abnormalities for Ependymoma include genes PIK3C3, FGFR1, EP300, APC and FLT4. The occurrence frequency distribution for these genes respectively is 9.1%, 9.1%, 9.1%, 9.1% and 9.1%. These tumor genetic details of Ependymoma are mapped to molecular biochemical pathway drivers of cancer thereby providing definition of characteristic features of Ependymoma.

An ependymoma is a slow growing tumor of the glial cells, in the brain or spinal cord. It is a primary central nervous system tumor that does not spread beyond the brain and spinal cord. Over 1000 people are diagnosed with ependymoma each year. Ependymoma develops in both adults and children but is more common in children. Symptoms of ependymoma include back or neck pain, balance problems, blurry vision, difficulty urinating, dizziness, headaches, muscle weakness, numbness in arms or legs, nausea, vomiting and seizures. Treatment modalities for ependymoma include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. The 5-year survival rate for ependymoma is nearly 84%, however, tumor grade, location of the tumor, health and age of the patient can affect the prognosis. Supportive care with the right nutrition (foods and natural supplements) can improve patient’s well-being. (Ref: https://www.cancer.gov/rare-brain-spine-tumor/tumors/ependymoma; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23147-ependymoma)

Significance of Nutrition for Ependymoma

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 Ependymoma. 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 Plum includes active ingredients Melatonin, Quercetin, Rutin, Beta-sitosterol, Betulinic Acid and others. And Watermelon contains active ingredients Oleic Acid, Lycopene, Cucurbitacin E, Vitamin C, Linolenic 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 Ependymoma, activation or inhibition of selected biochemical pathways like Angiogenesis, DNA Repair, Oncogenic Histone Methylation, PI3K-AKT-MTOR 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 Ependymoma, 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 EPENDYMOMA – CONSIDER HIGH QUANTITY ACTIVE INGREDIENTS CONTAINED IN FOODS.

Foods for Ependymoma undergoing chemotherapy treatment

In Ependymoma – the genes PIK3C3, FGFR1, EP300, APC and FLT4 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 Ependymoma are Angiogenesis, DNA Repair, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Radiation is one of the chemotherapies used for cancer treatment. The intent of treatment is to negate or cancel out effects of biochemical pathway drivers Angiogenesis, DNA Repair, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling 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, Mung Bean or Common Bean?

Pulses are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Mung Bean are Oleic Acid, Quercetin, Genistein, Glucaric Acid, Vitamin C among others. While the active ingredients contained in Common Bean are Oleic Acid, Apigenin, Gamma-linolenic Acid, Delphinidin, Genistein and others.

Quercetin can manipulate biochemical pathways Angiogenesis and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Genistein has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.

Pelargonidin can manipulate biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.

When treating Ependymoma with chemotherapy Radiation – Foods like Mung Bean are recommended compared to Common Bean. This is because the active ingredients Pelargonidin and Folic Acid in Common Bean interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Quercetin and Genistein contained in Mung Bean support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.

RECOMMENDATION: MUNG BEAN IS RECOMMENDED OVER COMMON BEAN FOR EPENDYMOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY RADIATION FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Eat more vegetables, Celeriac or Bell Pepper?

Vegetables are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Celeriac are Oleic Acid, Angelicin, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Bell Pepper are Oleic Acid, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid, P-coumaric Acid and others.

Vitamin K can manipulate biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Angelicin has biological action on biochemical pathways Angiogenesis and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.

Capsaicin can manipulate biochemical pathways DNA Repair. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.

When treating Ependymoma with chemotherapy Radiation – Foods like Celeriac are recommended compared to Bell Pepper. This is because the active ingredients Capsaicin and Folic Acid in Bell Pepper interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Vitamin K and Angelicin contained in Celeriac support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.

RECOMMENDATION: CELERIAC IS RECOMMENDED OVER BELL PEPPER FOR EPENDYMOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY RADIATION FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Eat more fruits, Watermelon or Plum?

Fruits are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Watermelon are Oleic Acid, Lycopene, Cucurbitacin E, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Plum are Melatonin, Quercetin, Rutin, Beta-sitosterol, Betulinic Acid and others.

Lycopene can manipulate biochemical pathways Angiogenesis and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Cucurbitacin E has biological action on biochemical pathways Angiogenesis and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.

Lauric Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Kaempferide has biological action on biochemical pathways Angiogenesis. And so on.

When treating Ependymoma with chemotherapy Radiation – Foods like Watermelon are recommended compared to Plum. This is because the active ingredients Lauric Acid and Kaempferide in Plum interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Lycopene and Cucurbitacin E contained in Watermelon support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.

RECOMMENDATION: WATERMELON IS RECOMMENDED OVER PLUM FOR EPENDYMOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY RADIATION 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 Oleic Acid, Vitamin E, Delphinidin, Cianidanol, Linolenic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Brazil Nut are Oleic Acid, Vitamin E, Linolenic Acid, Folic Acid, Lecithin and others.

Vitamin E can manipulate biochemical pathways DNA Repair, Angiogenesis and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Delphinidin has biological action on biochemical pathways Angiogenesis and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.

Lecithin can manipulate biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.

When treating Ependymoma with chemotherapy Radiation – 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 Vitamin E and Delphinidin 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 EPENDYMOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY RADIATION FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Foods for Genetic Risk of Ependymoma

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. PIK3C3 and FGFR1 are two genes whose abnormalities are risk factors for Ependymoma. 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 Ependymoma can be used as a guide for coming up with a recommended personalized nutrition plan. For Ependymoma gene PIK3C3 has causative impact on biological pathways like Autophagy, Inositol Phosphate Signaling and Antigen Presentation. And FGFR1 has a causative impact on biological pathways like Angiogenesis, MAPK Signaling and Growth Factor Signaling. Foods and nutritional supplements which have molecular action to cancel out biochemical pathways effects of genes like PIK3C3 and FGFR1 should be included in a personalized nutrition plan. And those foods and supplements which promote the effects of genes PIK3C3 and FGFR1 should be avoided.

Eat more pulses, Hyacinth Bean or Moth Bean?

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

Palmitic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways Apoptosis, Growth Factor Signaling and MYC Signaling. Vitamin C has biological action on biochemical pathways P53 Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.

Vitamin A can manipulate biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways Apoptosis, MYC Signaling and P53 Signaling. And so on.

For genetic risk of Ependymoma due to abnormalities in genes PIK3C3 and FGFR1 – Foods like Hyacinth Bean are recommended compared to Moth Bean. This is because the active ingredients Vitamin A and Folic Acid in Moth Bean further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Palmitic Acid and Vitamin C contained in Hyacinth Bean together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.

RECOMMENDATION: HYACINTH BEAN IS RECOMMENDED OVER MOTH BEAN FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF EPENDYMOMA DUE TO GENES PIK3C3 AND FGFR1

Eat more vegetables, Jicama or Broccoli?

The active ingredients contained in Jicama are Vitamin C, Vitamin B3, Beta-carotene, Vitamin A, Folic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Broccoli are Vitamin C, Oleic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Brassinin and others.

Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways Apoptosis, MYC Signaling and P53 Signaling. Vitamin B3 has biological action on biochemical pathways Cell Cycle Checkpoints, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and Apoptosis.

Vitamin A can manipulate biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways Apoptosis, MYC Signaling and P53 Signaling. And so on.

For genetic risk of Ependymoma due to abnormalities in genes PIK3C3 and FGFR1 – Foods like Jicama are recommended compared to Broccoli. This is because the active ingredients Vitamin A and Folic Acid in Broccoli further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Vitamin C and Vitamin B3 contained in Jicama together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.

RECOMMENDATION: JICAMA IS RECOMMENDED OVER BROCCOLI FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF EPENDYMOMA DUE TO GENES PIK3C3 AND FGFR1

Eat more fruits, Feijoa or Cloudberry?

The active ingredients contained in Feijoa are Lycopene, Vitamin C, Casuarinin, Folic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Cloudberry are Vitamin C, Ellagic Acid, Urolithin B, Vitamin A and others.

Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways Apoptosis, MYC Signaling and P53 Signaling. Lycopene has biological action on biochemical pathways Cell Cycle Checkpoints, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and RAS-RAF Signaling.

Vitamin A can manipulate biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Ellagic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling. And so on.

For genetic risk of Ependymoma due to abnormalities in genes PIK3C3 and FGFR1 – Foods like Feijoa are recommended compared to Cloudberry. This is because the active ingredients Vitamin A and Ellagic Acid in Cloudberry 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 CLOUDBERRY FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF EPENDYMOMA DUE TO GENES PIK3C3 AND FGFR1

Eat more nuts, Almond or Macadamia Nut?

The active ingredients contained in Almond are Beta-sitosterol, Vitamin E, Quercetin, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Macadamia Nut are Beta-sitosterol, Palmitic Acid, Lauric Acid, Myristic Acid, Folic Acid and others.

Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways Apoptosis, MYC Signaling and P53 Signaling. Vitamin E has biological action on biochemical pathways Cell Cycle Checkpoints, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and Apoptosis.

Lauric Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Myristic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways Apoptosis, P53 Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. And so on.

For genetic risk of Ependymoma due to abnormalities in genes PIK3C3 and FGFR1 – Foods like Almond are recommended compared to Macadamia Nut. This is because the active ingredients Lauric Acid and Myristic Acid in Macadamia Nut further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Beta-sitosterol and Vitamin E contained in Almond together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.

RECOMMENDATION: ALMOND IS RECOMMENDED OVER MACADAMIA NUT FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF EPENDYMOMA DUE TO GENES PIK3C3 AND FGFR1

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 Ependymoma 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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