Foods for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma!

Introduction

Foods for Cutaneous Squamous Cell 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.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a common type of skin cancer that arises from the squamous cells of the skin. Accurate staging of cSCC is crucial for determining the extent of the cancer and guiding treatment decisions. Metastasis, or the spread of cSCC to other parts of the body, is a concern in advanced stages. The incidence of cSCC is significant, especially in individuals with a history of sun exposure or weakened immune systems. Dermatologists use pathology outlines to identify the characteristics and features of cSCC. Treatment options for cSCC include surgical excision, radiation therapy, and topical medications, depending on the stage and location of the cancer. The prognosis for cSCC is generally favorable, with high survival rates when detected and treated early. Proper coding using the ICD-10 system ensures accurate documentation of cSCC in medical records. In some cases, cSCC may be in situ, meaning it is confined to the top layer of the skin. However, advanced stages may require more aggressive treatment and close monitoring. It is important to differentiate cSCC from other skin cancers, such as melanoma, which require different management approaches. The epidemiology of cSCC highlights the significance of early detection and prevention efforts. Recently, the use of immunotherapy with cemiplimab has shown promise as a treatment option for advanced or metastatic cSCC. Continuous research and treatment guidelines contribute to better outcomes for individuals with cSCC. It is crucial for individuals at risk to protect their skin from harmful UV radiation and undergo regular skin checks to detect and treat cSCC at an early stage.

For Cutaneous Squamous Cell 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 Cutaneous Squamous Cell 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 Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

For example does it matter if vegetable Cauliflower is consumed more compared to Malabar Spinach? Does it make any difference if fruit Pummelo is preferred over Nance? Also if similar choices are made for nuts/seeds like Butternut over Chestnut and for pulses like Adzuki Bean over Pigeon Pea. And if what I eat matters – then how does one identify foods which are recommended for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and is it the same answer for everyone with the same diagnosis or genetic risk?

Yes! Foods you eat matters for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma!

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

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 Pummelo contains active ingredients Quercetin, Formononetin, Lupeol, Naringin, Curcumin. And Nance contains active ingredients Formononetin, Lupeol, Curcumin, Cinnamaldehyde, Isoliquiritigenin and possibly others.

A common mistake made when deciding and choosing foods to eat for Cutaneous Squamous Cell 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 Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

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

Skills Needed for Nutrition Personalization for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

Personalized nutrition for cancers like Cutaneous Squamous Cell 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 Cutaneous Squamous Cell 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.

Characteristics of cancers like Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

All cancers like Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma can be characterized by a unique set of biochemical pathways – the signature pathways. Biochemical pathways like Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics, Suppressive Histone Methylation, Extracellular Matrix Remodelling, Small Molecule Transport are part of the signature definition of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Each individual’s cancer genetics can be different and hence their specific cancer signature could be unique.

The treatments which are effective for Cutaneous Squamous Cell 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 Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma when taking cancer treatment Cemiplimab, 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.

RELN, APOB, FAT4, MUC16 and COL11A1 are the top ranked reported genes for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma. RELN is reported in 17.3 % of the representative patients across all clinical trials. And APOB is reported in 15.6 %. The combined population patient data cover ages from 37 to 93. 77.4 % of the patient data are identified as men. The Cutaneous Squamous Cell 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.

Food and Supplements for Cutaneous Squamous Cell 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 CAULIFLOWER or MALABAR SPINACH?

Vegetable Cauliflower contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Formononetin, Lupeol, Curcumin, Cinnamaldehyde, Brassinin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like JAK-STAT Signaling, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, Suppressive Histone Methylation and MYC Signaling and others. Cauliflower is recommended for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Cemiplimab. This is because Cauliflower modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Cemiplimab.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in vegetable Malabar Spinach are Quercetin, Formononetin, Lupeol, Curcumin, Cinnamaldehyde. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair, G-protein-coupled Receptor Signaling and Natural Killer Cell Activation and others. Malabar Spinach is not recommended for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Cemiplimab because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

VEGETABLE CAULIFLOWER IS RECOMMENDED OVER MALABAR SPINACH FOR Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma AND TREATMENT Cemiplimab.

Choose Fruit NANCE or PUMMELO?

Fruit Nance contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Formononetin, Lupeol, Curcumin, Cinnamaldehyde, Isoliquiritigenin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Angiogenesis, JAK-STAT Signaling, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and Natural Killer Cell Activation and others. Nance is recommended for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Cemiplimab. This is because Nance modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Cemiplimab.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in fruit Pummelo are Quercetin, Formononetin, Lupeol, Naringin, Curcumin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like PPAR Signaling and Interferon Signaling and others. Pummelo is not recommended for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Cemiplimab because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

FRUIT NANCE IS RECOMMENDED OVER PUMMELO FOR Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma AND TREATMENT Cemiplimab.

Choose Nut BUTTERNUT or CHESTNUT?

Butternut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Formononetin, Lupeol, Curcumin, Cinnamaldehyde, Isoliquiritigenin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Amino Acid Metabolism, JAK-STAT Signaling, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and MYC Signaling and others. Butternut is recommended for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Cemiplimab. This is because Butternut modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Cemiplimab.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in Chestnut are Ellagic Acid, Formononetin, Lupeol, Curcumin, Cinnamaldehyde. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like WNT Beta Catenin Signaling, G-protein-coupled Receptor Signaling and PPAR Signaling and others. Chestnut is not recommended for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Cemiplimab because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

BUTTERNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER CHESTNUT FOR Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma AND TREATMENT Cemiplimab.

For Individuals with Genetic Risk of Cancer

The question asked by individuals who have genetic risk of Cutaneous Squamous Cell 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 GIANT BUTTERBUR or RADISH?

Vegetable Giant Butterbur contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like MYC Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and P53 Signaling and others. Giant Butterbur is recommended for risk of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is APOB. This is because Giant Butterbur increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in vegetable Radish are Apigenin, Curcumin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, Complement Cascade and MYC Signaling and others. Radish is not recommended when risk of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is APOB because it increases the signature pathways of it.

VEGETABLE GIANT BUTTERBUR IS RECOMMENDED OVER RADISH FOR APOB GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

Choose Fruit JAVA PLUM or NATAL PLUM?

Fruit Java Plum contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like MYC Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and Apoptosis and others. Java Plum is recommended for risk of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is APOB. This is because Java Plum increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in fruit Natal Plum are Apigenin, Curcumin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Small Molecule Transport, Extracellular Matrix Remodelling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints and others. Natal Plum is not recommended when risk of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is APOB because it increases the signature pathways of it.

FRUIT JAVA PLUM IS RECOMMENDED OVER NATAL PLUM FOR APOB GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

Choose Nut COMMON HAZELNUT or FLAXSEED?

Common Hazelnut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Formononetin, Beta-sitosterol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle Checkpoints, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, Focal Adhesion and P53 Signaling and others. Common Hazelnut is recommended for risk of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is APOB. This is because Common Hazelnut increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in Flaxseed are Apigenin, Curcumin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, Complement Cascade and MYC Signaling and others. Flaxseed is not recommended when risk of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is APOB because it increases the signature pathways of it.

COMMON HAZELNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER FLAXSEED FOR APOB GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

In Conclusion

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

References

• Msk Impact 2017
• Genomic analysis of metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
• Dietary D-glucarate effects on the biomarkers of inflammation during early post-initiation stages of benzo[a]pyrene-induced lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice.
• Effects and significance of formononetin on expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGF in mouse cervical cancer tissue.
• Vitamin C enhances epigenetic modifications induced by 5-azacytidine and cell cycle arrest in the hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HLE and Huh7.
• Brassinin inhibits STAT3 signaling pathway through modulation of PIAS-3 and SOCS-3 expression and sensitizes human lung cancer xenograft in nude mice to paclitaxel.
• ROS-mediated activation and mitochondrial translocation of CaMKII contributes to Drp1-dependent mitochondrial fission and apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer cells by isorhamnetin and chloroquine.
• Betulinic acid impairs metastasis and reduces immunosuppressive cells in breast cancer models.
• Estrogen receptor modulators genistein, daidzein and ERB-041 inhibit cell migration, invasion, proliferation and sphere formation via modulation of FAK and PI3K/AKT signaling in ovarian cancer.