Foods for Pineoblastoma!

Introduction

Foods for Pineoblastoma 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.

Pineoblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer typically found in the pineal gland of the brain, presents various challenges in diagnosis and treatment. In radiology, imaging tests such as MRI play a crucial role in identifying and assessing the extent of pineoblastoma, providing valuable insights for treatment planning. The pathology outlines of pineoblastoma reveal its distinct cellular composition, aiding pathologists and oncologists in understanding its aggressive nature. Symptoms often include headaches, vision problems, and symptoms related to increased intracranial pressure, making early detection vital. The prognosis for pineoblastoma can vary, with survival rates depending on factors like the tumor’s size, location, and response to treatment. Treatment typically involves a multimodal approach, including surgery, radiotherapy, and a chemotherapy protocol designed to target this specific tumor type. Pineoblastoma in adults can differ in presentation and response to treatment compared to pediatric cases, necessitating tailored treatment strategies. Pineoblastoma treatment guidelines emphasize a combination of therapeutic approaches to improve outcomes. The cancer’s aggressive nature often requires intensive treatment, with radiotherapy and chemotherapy being central to managing the disease and improving survival rates for those affected by pineoblastoma.

For Pineoblastoma 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 Pineoblastoma 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 Pineoblastoma?

For example does it matter if vegetable Calabash is consumed more compared to Allium? Does it make any difference if fruit Pummelo is preferred over Pomegranate? Also if similar choices are made for nuts/seeds like Hazelnut over Cashew Nut and for pulses like Chickpea over Yellow Wax Bean. And if what I eat matters – then how does one identify foods which are recommended for Pineoblastoma and is it the same answer for everyone with the same diagnosis or genetic risk?

Yes! Foods you eat matters for Pineoblastoma!

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 Caffeine, Quercetin, Daidzein, Allicin, Cinnamaldehyde. And Pomegranate contains active ingredients Quercetin, Daidzein, Myricetin, Allicin, Cinnamaldehyde and possibly others.

A common mistake made when deciding and choosing foods to eat for Pineoblastoma – 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 Pineoblastoma.

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

Skills Needed for Nutrition Personalization for Pineoblastoma?

Personalized nutrition for cancers like Pineoblastoma 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 Pineoblastoma 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 Pineoblastoma

All cancers like Pineoblastoma can be characterized by a unique set of biochemical pathways – the signature pathways of Pineoblastoma. Biochemical pathways like Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics, DNA Repair, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, Histone/Protein Acetylation are part of the signature definition of Pineoblastoma. Each individual’s cancer genetics can be different and hence their specific cancer signature could be unique.

The treatments which are effective for Pineoblastoma 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 Pineoblastoma when taking cancer treatment Carmustine, 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.

ATR, DICER1, ATM, CREBBP and EPHB1 are the top ranked reported genes for Pineoblastoma. ATR is reported in 44.7 % of the representative patients across all clinical trials. And DICER1 is reported in 13.6 %. The combined population patient data cover ages from 30 to 71. 60.0 % of the patient data are identified as men. The Pineoblastoma 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 Pineoblastoma

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 CALABASH or ALLIUM?

Vegetable Calabash contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Daidzein, Myricetin, Allicin, Formononetin, Cinnamaldehyde. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and others. Calabash is recommended for Pineoblastoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Carmustine. This is because Calabash modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Carmustine.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in vegetable Allium are Quercetin, Daidzein, Allicin, Formononetin, Cinnamaldehyde. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and others. Allium is not recommended for Pineoblastoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Carmustine because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

VEGETABLE CALABASH IS RECOMMENDED OVER ALLIUM FOR Pineoblastoma AND TREATMENT Carmustine.

Choose Fruit POMEGRANATE or PUMMELO?

Fruit Pomegranate contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Quercetin, Daidzein, Myricetin, Allicin, Cinnamaldehyde. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Pomegranate is recommended for Pineoblastoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Carmustine. This is because Pomegranate modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Carmustine.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in fruit Pummelo are Caffeine, Quercetin, Daidzein, Allicin, Cinnamaldehyde. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and others. Pummelo is not recommended for Pineoblastoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Carmustine because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

FRUIT POMEGRANATE IS RECOMMENDED OVER PUMMELO FOR Pineoblastoma AND TREATMENT Carmustine.

Choose Nut HAZELNUT or CASHEW NUT?

Hazelnut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Daidzein, Myricetin, Allicin, Formononetin, Cinnamaldehyde. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and others. Hazelnut is recommended for Pineoblastoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Carmustine. This is because Hazelnut modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Carmustine.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in Cashew Nut are Quercetin, Daidzein, Myricetin, Allicin, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and others. Cashew Nut is not recommended for Pineoblastoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Carmustine because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

HAZELNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER CASHEW NUT FOR Pineoblastoma AND TREATMENT Carmustine.

For Individuals with Genetic Risk of Cancer

The question asked by individuals who have genetic risk of Pineoblastoma 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 YELLOW BELL PEPPER or WHITE CABBAGE?

Vegetable Yellow Bell Pepper contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Lupeol, Linalool, Formononetin, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair, TGFB Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and MYC Signaling and others. Yellow Bell Pepper is recommended for risk of Pineoblastoma when associated genetic risk is ATM. This is because Yellow Bell Pepper increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in vegetable White Cabbage are Curcumin, Lupeol, Formononetin, Daidzein, Beta-sitosterol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair and others. White Cabbage is not recommended when risk of Pineoblastoma when associated genetic risk is ATM because it increases the signature pathways of it.

VEGETABLE YELLOW BELL PEPPER IS RECOMMENDED OVER WHITE CABBAGE FOR ATM GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

Choose Fruit RED RASPBERRY or GRAPEFRUIT?

Fruit Red Raspberry contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Ellagic Acid, Lupeol, Formononetin, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like TGFB Signaling, Apoptosis, P53 Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints and others. Red Raspberry is recommended for risk of Pineoblastoma when associated genetic risk is ATM. This is because Red Raspberry increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in fruit Grapefruit are Curcumin, Lupeol, Formononetin, Daidzein, Beta-sitosterol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair and others. Grapefruit is not recommended when risk of Pineoblastoma when associated genetic risk is ATM because it increases the signature pathways of it.

FRUIT RED RASPBERRY IS RECOMMENDED OVER GRAPEFRUIT FOR ATM GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

Choose Nut COMMON HAZELNUT or FLAXSEED?

Common Hazelnut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Lupeol, Formononetin, Daidzein, Beta-sitosterol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Apoptosis, P53 Signaling, EPHRIN Signaling and MYC Signaling and others. Common Hazelnut is recommended for risk of Pineoblastoma when associated genetic risk is ATM. 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 Curcumin, Apigenin, Lupeol, Formononetin, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and MYC Signaling and others. Flaxseed is not recommended when risk of Pineoblastoma when associated genetic risk is ATM because it increases the signature pathways of it.

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

In Conclusion

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

References

• Mixed Kunga Msk 2022
• Cancer therapy shapes the fitness landscape of clonal hematopoiesis.
• Daidzein exerts anti-tumor activity against bladder cancer cells via inhibition of FGFR3 pathway.
• Myricetin arrests human telomeric G-quadruplex structure: a new mechanistic approach as an anticancer agent.
• Gallic acid provokes DNA damage and suppresses DNA repair gene expression in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells.
• Paederia foetida induces anticancer activity by modulating chromatin modification enzymes and altering pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression in human prostate cancer cells.