Which Foods are Recommended for Pilocytic Astrocytoma?

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 Pilocytic Astrocytoma when undergoing chemotherapy or when you determine you have a genetic risk for developing Pilocytic Astrocytoma because of FGFR1 and IL4R 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 Pilocytic 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 Huckleberry” or “Include fruit Orange in my diet” or “Should I reduce consumption of vegetable Bell Pepper” or “Can I take D-limonene and Modified Citrus Pectin 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 PILOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMA, TREATMENTS, GENETIC INFORMATION, AND OTHER CONDITIONS.

The overall objective of personalized nutrition for Pilocytic 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 PILOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMA, WHEN TREATMENTS, DISEASE STATUS AND OTHER CONDITIONS CHANGE.

About Pilocytic 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 Pilocytic Astrocytoma from cBioPortal. The patients enrolled in the studies for Pilocytic Astrocytoma are in ages between 2 to 50 with an average age of 8. 45.6% of males and 54.4% of females were the distribution of gender in these clinical studies. From a patient sample size of 294; the top genes with mutations and other abnormalities for Pilocytic Astrocytoma include genes BRAF, FGFR1, NF1, IL4R and PTPN11. The occurrence frequency distribution for these genes respectively is 5.0%, 3.6%, 2.1%, 1.4% and 1.4%. These tumor genetic details of Pilocytic Astrocytoma are mapped to molecular biochemical pathway drivers of cancer thereby providing definition of characteristic features of Pilocytic Astrocytoma.

Pilocytic astrocytoma are low-grade, slow growing tumors that occur in the cerebellum but can also occur in other brain regions such as the optic pathway and brainstem. They are classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of central nervous system tumors as Grade I gliomas and have a good prognosis. 75% of pilocytic astrocytoma diagnosis is in children and adolescents under the age of 20 years. It can occur in adults but comprise only 5% of all primary adult brain tumors. Symptoms of pilocytic astrocytoma include worsening morning headaches, nausea, vomiting, seizures, changes in mood or personality and other varied symptoms depending on the location and size of the tumor. Pilocytic astrocytoma is often curable after a total resection of the tumor with a 10-year survival rate of 95%, while for pilocytic astrocytoma in adults, the 5-year survival is 85% and survival rates decline with age in adults over 60-years old. Besides surgery, treatment options for pilocytic astrocytoma also include radiation and chemotherapy. Along with the treatment, supportive care with the right nutrition (foods and natural supplements) can help improve the patients’ well-being. (Ref: https://www.healthline.com/health/pilocytic-astrocytoma;
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560614/)

Significance of Nutrition for Pilocytic 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 Pilocytic 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 Huckleberry includes active ingredients Quercetin, Resveratrol, Chlorogenic Acid, Vitamin C, Delphinidin and others. And Orange contains active ingredients Modified Citrus Pectin, D-limonene, Linalool, Glucaric Acid, Quercetagetin 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 Pilocytic Astrocytoma, activation or inhibition of selected biochemical pathways like RAS-RAF Signaling, Focal Adhesion, MAPK Signaling, 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 Pilocytic 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 PILOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMA – CONSIDER HIGH QUANTITY ACTIVE INGREDIENTS CONTAINED IN FOODS.

Foods for Pilocytic Astrocytoma undergoing chemotherapy treatment

In Pilocytic Astrocytoma – the genes BRAF, FGFR1, NF1, IL4R and PTPN11 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 Pilocytic Astrocytoma are RAS-RAF Signaling, Focal Adhesion, DNA Repair 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 RAS-RAF Signaling, Focal Adhesion, DNA 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, Scarlet Bean or Common Bean?

Pulses are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Scarlet Bean are Vitamin C, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Beta-sitosterol, Liquiritigenin among others. While the active ingredients contained in Common Bean are Vitamin C, Delphinidin, Oleic Acid, Apigenin, Linolenic Acid and others.

Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, RAS-RAF Signaling and MAPK Signaling. Beta-sitosterol has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and MYC Signaling.

Vitamin A can manipulate biochemical pathways Focal Adhesion. Apigenin has biological action on biochemical pathways DNA Repair. And so on.

When treating Pilocytic Astrocytoma with chemotherapy Radiation – Foods like Scarlet Bean 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 Vitamin C and Beta-sitosterol contained in Scarlet Bean support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.

RECOMMENDATION: SCARLET BEAN IS RECOMMENDED OVER COMMON BEAN FOR PILOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY RADIATION FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Eat more vegetables, Potato or Bell Pepper?

Vegetables are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Potato are Gallic Acid, Chlorogenic Acid, Vitamin C, Oleic Acid, Isoquercitrin among others. While the active ingredients contained in Bell Pepper are Isorhamnetin, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid and others.

Gallic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, DNA Repair and MAPK Signaling. Chlorogenic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, Focal Adhesion and MYC Signaling.

Vitamin A can manipulate biochemical pathways Focal Adhesion. Capsaicin has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, DNA Repair and MAPK Signaling. And so on.

When treating Pilocytic Astrocytoma with chemotherapy Radiation – Foods like Potato are recommended compared to Bell Pepper. This is because the active ingredients Vitamin A and Capsaicin in Bell Pepper interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Gallic Acid and Chlorogenic Acid contained in Potato support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.

RECOMMENDATION: POTATO IS RECOMMENDED OVER BELL PEPPER FOR PILOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY RADIATION FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Eat more fruits, Orange or Huckleberry?

Fruits are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Orange are Modified Citrus Pectin, D-limonene, Linalool, Glucaric Acid, Quercetagetin among others. While the active ingredients contained in Huckleberry are Quercetin, Resveratrol, Chlorogenic Acid, Vitamin C, Delphinidin and others.

D-limonene can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, RAS-RAF Signaling and MAPK Signaling. Glucaric Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, MYC Signaling and RAS-RAF Signaling.

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

When treating Pilocytic Astrocytoma with chemotherapy Radiation – Foods like Orange are recommended compared to Huckleberry. This is because the active ingredients Resveratrol and Pelargonidin in Huckleberry interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients D-limonene and Glucaric Acid contained in Orange support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.

RECOMMENDATION: ORANGE IS RECOMMENDED OVER HUCKLEBERRY FOR PILOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY RADIATION FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Eat more nuts, Pine Nut or Macadamia Nut?

Nuts are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Pine Nut are Vitamin E, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Beta-sitosterol, Linoleic 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 MYC Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Vitamin K has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.

Palmitic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and MAPK Signaling. Lauric Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, MYC Signaling and MAPK Signaling. And so on.

When treating Pilocytic Astrocytoma with chemotherapy Radiation – Foods like Pine Nut are recommended compared to Macadamia Nut. This is because the active ingredients Palmitic Acid and Lauric Acid in Macadamia Nut interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Beta-sitosterol and Vitamin K contained in Pine Nut support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.

RECOMMENDATION: PINE NUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER MACADAMIA NUT FOR PILOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY RADIATION FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Foods for Genetic Risk of Pilocytic 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. FGFR1 and IL4R are two genes whose abnormalities are risk factors for Pilocytic 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 Pilocytic Astrocytoma can be used as a guide for coming up with a recommended personalized nutrition plan. For Pilocytic Astrocytoma gene FGFR1 has causative impact on biological pathways like Angiogenesis, MAPK Signaling and Growth Factor Signaling. And IL4R has a causative impact on biological pathways like Cytokine Signaling and Inflammation. Foods and nutritional supplements which have molecular action to cancel out biochemical pathways effects of genes like FGFR1 and IL4R should be included in a personalized nutrition plan. And those foods and supplements which promote the effects of genes FGFR1 and IL4R should be avoided.

Eat more pulses, Common Pea or Chickpea?

The active ingredients contained in Common Pea are Lupeol, Daidzein, Beta-sitosterol, Vitamin C, Oleic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Chickpea are Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Genistein, Vitamin A, Folic Acid and others.

Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, Cytokine Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Vitamin C has biological action on biochemical pathways P53 Signaling, RAS-RAF Signaling and MYC Signaling.

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

For genetic risk of Pilocytic Astrocytoma due to abnormalities in genes FGFR1 and IL4R – Foods like Common Pea are recommended compared to Chickpea. This is because the active ingredients Vitamin A and Folic Acid in Chickpea further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Beta-sitosterol and Vitamin C contained in Common Pea together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.

RECOMMENDATION: COMMON PEA IS RECOMMENDED OVER CHICKPEA FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF PILOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMA DUE TO GENES FGFR1 AND IL4R

Eat more vegetables, Jicama or Chinese Mustard?

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 Chinese Mustard are Quercetin, Isorhamnetin, Indole-3-carbinol, Kaempferol, Vitamin A and others.

Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, P53 Signaling and RAS-RAF Signaling. Vitamin B3 has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, MYC Signaling and P53 Signaling.

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

For genetic risk of Pilocytic Astrocytoma due to abnormalities in genes FGFR1 and IL4R – Foods like Jicama are recommended compared to Chinese Mustard. This is because the active ingredients Vitamin A and Folic Acid in Chinese Mustard 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 CHINESE MUSTARD FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF PILOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMA DUE TO GENES FGFR1 AND IL4R

Eat more fruits, Feijoa or Date?

The active ingredients contained in Feijoa are Lycopene, Vitamin C, Casuarinin, Folic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Date are Apigenin, Protocatechuic Acid, Quercetin, Lupeol, Beta-sitosterol and others.

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

Apigenin can manipulate biochemical pathways TGFB Signaling. Vitamin A has biological action on biochemical pathways Cytokine Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.

For genetic risk of Pilocytic Astrocytoma due to abnormalities in genes FGFR1 and IL4R – Foods like Feijoa are recommended compared to Date. This is because the active ingredients Apigenin and Vitamin A in Date 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 DATE FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF PILOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMA DUE TO GENES FGFR1 AND IL4R

Eat more nuts, Almond or Cashew Nut?

The active ingredients contained in Almond are Quercetin, Beta-sitosterol, Vitamin E, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Cashew Nut are Beta-sitosterol, Palmitic Acid, Vitamin C, Gallic Acid, Butyric Acid and others.

Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, Cytokine Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Quercetin has biological action on biochemical pathways Growth Factor Signaling, TGFB Signaling and P53 Signaling.

Palmitic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways TGFB Signaling. Lauric Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.

For genetic risk of Pilocytic Astrocytoma due to abnormalities in genes FGFR1 and IL4R – Foods like Almond are recommended compared to Cashew Nut. This is because the active ingredients Palmitic Acid and Lauric Acid in Cashew Nut 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 CASHEW NUT FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF PILOCYTIC ASTROCYTOMA DUE TO GENES FGFR1 AND IL4R

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 Pilocytic 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.

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