Which Foods are Recommended for Medulloblastoma?

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 Medulloblastoma when undergoing chemotherapy or when you determine you have a genetic risk for developing Medulloblastoma because of PTCH1 and DDX3X 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 Medulloblastoma 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 Pummelo” or “Include fruit Rowanberry in my diet” or “Should I reduce consumption of vegetable Swede” or “Can I take Dim and Birch 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 MEDULLOBLASTOMA, TREATMENTS, GENETIC INFORMATION, AND OTHER CONDITIONS.

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

About Medulloblastoma

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 Medulloblastoma from cBioPortal. The patients enrolled in the studies for Medulloblastoma are in ages between 1 to 50 with an average age of 8. 62.3% of males and 37.7% of females were the distribution of gender in these clinical studies. From a patient sample size of 1151; the top genes with mutations and other abnormalities for Medulloblastoma include genes PTCH1, TERT, DDX3X, KMT2D and CTNNB1. The occurrence frequency distribution for these genes respectively is 6.3%, 6.2%, 5.3%, 4.2% and 4.0%. These tumor genetic details of Medulloblastoma are mapped to molecular biochemical pathway drivers of cancer thereby providing definition of characteristic features of Medulloblastoma.

Medulloblastoma is a primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor that can begin in the brain or spinal cord. Medulloblastomas are malignant (cancerous), rapidly growing tumors that can often spread to other areas of the CNS through the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). They rarely metastasize to outside the CNS to the bones or the lymph nodes. Symptoms for medulloblastoma include issues with walking, balance, and/or fine motor skills. If the tumor is blocking the CSF, it can lead to increased pressure inside the skull causing hydrocephalus. This can lead to headaches, nausea, vomiting, blurred double vision, extreme sleepiness, confusion and even seizures. If medulloblastoma has spread to the spine, the symptoms may include weakness or numbness in the arms or legs, spinal pain and issues with bowel and bladder habits. Medulloblastoma can be diagnosed in both children and younger adults between 20 and 40 years of age. The 5-year survival rate for medulloblastoma is around 72%, but factors such as tumor grade and type, person’s age and health status when diagnosed, and how they respond to treatment, can impact the prognosis. Treatment options for medulloblastoma include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or participating in clinical trials for novel therapeutic options that are in clinical development. In addition, the right nutrition (foods and natural supplements) with their inherent bioactives, that can interfere with the disease driving pathways, can facilitate the supportive care of patients and help with improving their well-being. (Ref: https://www.cancer.gov/rare-brain-spine-tumor/tumors/medulloblastoma ; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22591-medulloblastoma ; Eibl T et al, Aging (Albany NY), 2021)

Significance of Nutrition for Medulloblastoma

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 Medulloblastoma. 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 Pummelo includes active ingredients Naringin, Beta-sitosterol, Naringenin, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid and others. And Rowanberry contains active ingredients Quercetin, Chlorogenic 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 Medulloblastoma, activation or inhibition of selected biochemical pathways like DNA Repair, Angiogenesis, Oncogenic Histone Methylation, Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition 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 Medulloblastoma, 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 MEDULLOBLASTOMA – CONSIDER HIGH QUANTITY ACTIVE INGREDIENTS CONTAINED IN FOODS.

Foods for Medulloblastoma undergoing chemotherapy treatment

In Medulloblastoma – the genes PTCH1, TERT, DDX3X, KMT2D and CTNNB1 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 Medulloblastoma are DNA Repair, Angiogenesis, Hypoxia and others. Temozolomide is one of the chemotherapies used for cancer treatment. The intent of treatment is to negate or cancel out effects of biochemical pathway drivers DNA Repair, Angiogenesis, Hypoxia 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 Lima Bean?

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

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

Genistein can manipulate biochemical pathways DNA Repair and Oxidative Stress. Vitamin A has biological action on biochemical pathways Extracellular Matrix Remodelling and Focal Adhesion. And so on.

When treating Medulloblastoma with chemotherapy Temozolomide – Foods like Common Pea are recommended compared to Lima Bean. This is because the active ingredients Genistein and Vitamin A in Lima 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 LIMA BEAN FOR MEDULLOBLASTOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY TEMOZOLOMIDE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Eat more vegetables, Cassava or Swede?

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

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

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

When treating Medulloblastoma with chemotherapy Temozolomide – Foods like Cassava are recommended compared to Swede. This is because the active ingredients Lycopene and Linolenic Acid in Swede 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 SWEDE FOR MEDULLOBLASTOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY TEMOZOLOMIDE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Eat more fruits, Rowanberry or Pummelo?

Fruits are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Rowanberry are Quercetin, Chlorogenic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Pummelo are Naringin, Beta-sitosterol, Naringenin, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid and others.

Chlorogenic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, NFKB Signaling and Extracellular Matrix Remodelling. Quercetin has biological action on biochemical pathways DNA Repair, Growth Factor Signaling and TGFB Signaling.

Naringin can manipulate biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. Naringenin has biological action on biochemical pathways DNA Repair and Oxidative Stress. And so on.

When treating Medulloblastoma with chemotherapy Temozolomide – Foods like Rowanberry are recommended compared to Pummelo. This is because the active ingredients Naringin and Naringenin in Pummelo interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Chlorogenic Acid and Quercetin contained in Rowanberry support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.

RECOMMENDATION: ROWANBERRY IS RECOMMENDED OVER PUMMELO FOR MEDULLOBLASTOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY TEMOZOLOMIDE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Eat more nuts, Almond or Pumpkin Seeds?

Nuts are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Almond are Quercetin, Vitamin E, Beta-sitosterol, Salicylic Acid, Linolenic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Pumpkin Seeds are Beta-sitosterol, Salicylic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Gamma-linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid and others.

Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, NFKB Signaling and Adherens junction. Quercetin has biological action on biochemical pathways DNA Repair, Growth Factor Signaling and TGFB Signaling.

Gamma-linolenic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways Vitamin D Signaling and Oxidative Stress. Lecithin has biological action on biochemical pathways NFKB Signaling, JAK-STAT Signaling and TWEAK Signaling. And so on.

When treating Medulloblastoma with chemotherapy Temozolomide – Foods like Almond are recommended compared to Pumpkin Seeds. This is because the active ingredients Gamma-linolenic Acid and Lecithin in Pumpkin Seeds interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Beta-sitosterol and Quercetin contained in Almond support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.

RECOMMENDATION: ALMOND IS RECOMMENDED OVER PUMPKIN SEEDS FOR MEDULLOBLASTOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY TEMOZOLOMIDE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Foods for Genetic Risk of Medulloblastoma

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. PTCH1 and DDX3X are two genes whose abnormalities are risk factors for Medulloblastoma. 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 Medulloblastoma can be used as a guide for coming up with a recommended personalized nutrition plan. For Medulloblastoma gene PTCH1 has causative impact on biological pathways like G-protein-coupled Receptor Signaling. And DDX3X has a causative impact on biological pathways like Interferon Signaling. Foods and nutritional supplements which have molecular action to cancel out biochemical pathways effects of genes like PTCH1 and DDX3X should be included in a personalized nutrition plan. And those foods and supplements which promote the effects of genes PTCH1 and DDX3X should be avoided.

Eat more pulses, Scarlet Bean or Adzuki Bean?

The active ingredients contained in Scarlet Bean are Genistein, Oleic Acid, Beta-sitosterol, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Adzuki Bean are Genistein, Isoliquiritigenin, Glucaric Acid, Folic Acid and others.

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

Isoliquiritigenin can manipulate biochemical pathways Interferon Signaling. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.

For genetic risk of Medulloblastoma due to abnormalities in genes PTCH1 and DDX3X – Foods like Scarlet Bean are recommended compared to Adzuki Bean. This is because the active ingredients Isoliquiritigenin and Folic Acid in Adzuki Bean further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Beta-sitosterol and Vitamin C contained in Scarlet Bean together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.

RECOMMENDATION: SCARLET BEAN IS RECOMMENDED OVER ADZUKI BEAN FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF MEDULLOBLASTOMA DUE TO GENES PTCH1 AND DDX3X

Eat more vegetables, Jicama or Beetroot?

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 Beetroot are Oleic Acid, Beta-sitosterol, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid and others.

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

Vitamin E can manipulate biochemical pathways DNA Repair. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.

For genetic risk of Medulloblastoma due to abnormalities in genes PTCH1 and DDX3X – Foods like Jicama are recommended compared to Beetroot. This is because the active ingredients Vitamin E and Folic Acid in Beetroot 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 BEETROOT FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF MEDULLOBLASTOMA DUE TO GENES PTCH1 AND DDX3X

Eat more fruits, Kiwi or Cranberry?

The active ingredients contained in Kiwi are Vitamin C, Quercetin, Fisetin, Chlorogenic Acid, Vitamin A among others. While the active ingredients contained in Cranberry are Resveratrol, Ellagic Acid, Vitamin C, Hyperoside, Myricetin and others.

Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. Quercetin has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, MYC Signaling and Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics.

Resveratrol can manipulate biochemical pathways Interferon Signaling. Ellagic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. And so on.

For genetic risk of Medulloblastoma due to abnormalities in genes PTCH1 and DDX3X – Foods like Kiwi are recommended compared to Cranberry. This is because the active ingredients Resveratrol and Ellagic Acid in Cranberry further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Vitamin C and Quercetin contained in Kiwi together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.

RECOMMENDATION: KIWI IS RECOMMENDED OVER CRANBERRY FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF MEDULLOBLASTOMA DUE TO GENES PTCH1 AND DDX3X

Eat more nuts, Hazelnut or Peanut?

The active ingredients contained in Hazelnut are Oleic Acid, Vitamin E, Linolenic Acid, Quercetin, Linoleic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Peanut are Oleic Acid, Beta-sitosterol, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid and others.

Quercetin can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. Myricitrin has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and MYC Signaling.

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

For genetic risk of Medulloblastoma due to abnormalities in genes PTCH1 and DDX3X – Foods like Hazelnut are recommended compared to Peanut. This is because the active ingredients Lecithin and Vitamin E in Peanut further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Quercetin and Myricitrin contained in Hazelnut together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.

RECOMMENDATION: HAZELNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER PEANUT FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF MEDULLOBLASTOMA DUE TO GENES PTCH1 AND DDX3X

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 Medulloblastoma 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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