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 Myelodysplastic Syndrome when undergoing chemotherapy or when you determine you have a genetic risk for developing Myelodysplastic Syndrome because of RUNX1 and NSD1 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 Myelodysplastic Syndrome 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 Pitanga in my diet” or “Should I reduce consumption of vegetable Green Bean” or “Can I take Curcumin and Andrographis 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 MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME, TREATMENTS, GENETIC INFORMATION, AND OTHER CONDITIONS.
The overall objective of personalized nutrition for Myelodysplastic Syndrome 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 MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME, WHEN TREATMENTS, DISEASE STATUS AND OTHER CONDITIONS CHANGE.
About Myelodysplastic Syndrome
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 Myelodysplastic Syndrome from cBioPortal. The patients enrolled in the studies for Myelodysplastic Syndrome are in ages between 24 to 86 with an average age of 71. 58.6% of males and 41.4% of females were the distribution of gender in these clinical studies. From a patient sample size of 898; the top genes with mutations and other abnormalities for Myelodysplastic Syndrome include genes RUNX1, NSD1, JAK2, KMT2A and EP300. The occurrence frequency distribution for these genes respectively is 16.1%, 6.7%, 6.1%, 6.1% and 5.6%. These tumor genetic details of Myelodysplastic Syndrome are mapped to molecular biochemical pathway drivers of cancer thereby providing definition of characteristic features of Myelodysplastic Syndrome.
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of blood cancers that affect the production of normal blood cells in the bone marrow. When the abnormal leukemia cell divides, the original mutation is preserved and it produces a clone of identical abnormal cells with the same defect, hence MDS is a clonal blood stem cell disorder. Myelodysplastic syndromes are more common in older individuals over 60 years of age and affects males slightly more than females. In MDS, the abnormal bone marrow stem cells (also called blasts) produce increased numbers of immature blood cells that often die prematurely. This results in lower numbers of mature red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets making the patient more susceptible to infections, bleeding, bruising and fatigue. MDS is classified according to the type and number of blasts in the bone marrow into 5 main subtypes: refractory anemia; refractory anemia with sideroblasts; refractory anemia with excess blasts; refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation; and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). People with MDS have active bone marrows but abnormally low blood cell counts. General symptoms associated with MDS include fatigue, dizziness, weakness, bruising and bleeding, frequent infections, and headaches. In some cases, MDS may progress to life-threatening failure of the bone marrow or develop into acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Treatment options for myelodysplastic syndromes include blood transfusions, growth factors such as granulocyte-colony stimulation growth factor (G-CSF), hypomethylating agents, immunomodulatory agents, and chemotherapy. In addition, supportive care with the right nutrition (foods and natural supplements) can help improve patients’ well-being. (Ref: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/myelodysplastic-syndromes/; https://www.leukaemia.org.au/blood-cancer-information/types-of-blood-cancer/myelodysplastic-syndromes/; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534126/)
Significance of Nutrition for Myelodysplastic Syndrome
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 Myelodysplastic Syndrome. 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 Vitamin C, Beta-sitosterol, Naringin, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid and others. And Pitanga contains active ingredients Quercetin, Vitamin C, Vitamin A 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 Myelodysplastic Syndrome, activation or inhibition of selected biochemical pathways like Amino Acid Metabolism, Histone/Protein Acetylation, RUNX Signaling, RAS-RAF 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 Myelodysplastic Syndrome, 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 MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME – CONSIDER HIGH QUANTITY ACTIVE INGREDIENTS CONTAINED IN FOODS.
Foods for Myelodysplastic Syndrome undergoing chemotherapy treatment
In Myelodysplastic Syndrome – the genes RUNX1, NSD1, JAK2, KMT2A and EP300 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 Myelodysplastic Syndrome are Amino Acid Metabolism, Histone/Protein Acetylation, Hypoxia and others. Lenalidomide is one of the chemotherapies used for cancer treatment. The intent of treatment is to negate or cancel out effects of biochemical pathway drivers Amino Acid Metabolism, Histone/Protein Acetylation, 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, Winged Bean or Pigeon Pea?
Pulses are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Winged Bean are Vitamin C, Betulinic Acid, Oleic Acid, Vitamin A, Linolenic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Pigeon Pea are Vitamin C, Genistein, Oleic Acid, Vitamin A, Linolenic Acid and others.
Betulinic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress, JAK-STAT Signaling and Cell Cycle. Vitamin C has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, P53 Signaling and Vitamin D Signaling.
Genistein 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 Myelodysplastic Syndrome with chemotherapy Lenalidomide – Foods like Winged Bean are recommended compared to Pigeon Pea. This is because the active ingredients Genistein and Linolenic Acid in Pigeon Pea interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Betulinic Acid and Vitamin C contained in Winged Bean support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.
RECOMMENDATION: WINGED BEAN IS RECOMMENDED OVER PIGEON PEA FOR MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY LENALIDOMIDE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.
Eat more vegetables, Cassava or Green Bean?
Vegetables are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Cassava are Vitamin C, Beta-sitosterol, Oleic Acid, Vitamin A, Linolenic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Green Bean are Vitamin C, Kaempferol, Beta-sitosterol, Oleic Acid, Vitamin A and others.
Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress, Cell Cycle and MYC Signaling. Beta-sitosterol has biological action on biochemical pathways P53 Signaling, Vitamin D Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.
Citric Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. Kaempferol has biological action on biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. And so on.
When treating Myelodysplastic Syndrome with chemotherapy Lenalidomide – Foods like Cassava are recommended compared to Green Bean. This is because the active ingredients Citric Acid and Kaempferol in Green 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 Cassava support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.
RECOMMENDATION: CASSAVA IS RECOMMENDED OVER GREEN BEAN FOR MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY LENALIDOMIDE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.
Eat more fruits, Pitanga or Pummelo?
Fruits are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Pitanga are Quercetin, Vitamin C, Vitamin A among others. While the active ingredients contained in Pummelo are Vitamin C, Beta-sitosterol, Naringin, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid and others.
Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress, Cell Cycle and MYC Signaling. Quercetin has biological action on biochemical pathways JAK-STAT Signaling, P53 Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.
Naringin can manipulate biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. Naringenin has biological action on biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. And so on.
When treating Myelodysplastic Syndrome with chemotherapy Lenalidomide – Foods like Pitanga 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 Vitamin C and Quercetin contained in Pitanga support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.
RECOMMENDATION: PITANGA IS RECOMMENDED OVER PUMMELO FOR MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY LENALIDOMIDE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.
Eat more nuts, Pistachio or Peanut?
Nuts are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Pistachio are Vitamin E, Beta-sitosterol, Resveratrol, Oleic Acid, Stigmasterol among others. While the active ingredients contained in Peanut are Quercetin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Beta-sitosterol, Oleic Acid and others.
Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress, Cell Cycle and MYC Signaling. Vitamin E has biological action on biochemical pathways Notch Signaling, P53 Signaling and Vitamin D Signaling.
Citric Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. Lecithin has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, JAK-STAT Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.
When treating Myelodysplastic Syndrome with chemotherapy Lenalidomide – Foods like Pistachio are recommended compared to Peanut. This is because the active ingredients Citric Acid and Lecithin in Peanut interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Beta-sitosterol and Vitamin E contained in Pistachio support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.
RECOMMENDATION: PISTACHIO IS RECOMMENDED OVER PEANUT FOR MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY LENALIDOMIDE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.
Foods for Genetic Risk of Myelodysplastic Syndrome
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. RUNX1 and NSD1 are two genes whose abnormalities are risk factors for Myelodysplastic Syndrome. 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 Myelodysplastic Syndrome can be used as a guide for coming up with a recommended personalized nutrition plan. For Myelodysplastic Syndrome gene RUNX1 has causative impact on biological pathways like NFKB Signaling, RUNX Signaling and TGFB Signaling. And NSD1 has a causative impact on biological pathways like Oncogenic Histone Methylation, Chromatin Remodeling and Amino Acid Metabolism. Foods and nutritional supplements which have molecular action to cancel out biochemical pathways effects of genes like RUNX1 and NSD1 should be included in a personalized nutrition plan. And those foods and supplements which promote the effects of genes RUNX1 and NSD1 should be avoided.
Eat more pulses, Mung Bean or Soy Bean?
The active ingredients contained in Mung Bean are Quercetin, Vitamin C, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Stigmasterol among others. While the active ingredients contained in Soy Bean are Lupeol, Daidzein, Vitamin E, Beta-sitosterol, Quercetin and others.
Quercetin can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, P53 Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. Vitamin C has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and RAS-RAF Signaling.
Aescin can manipulate biochemical pathways Cell Cycle Checkpoints. Lecithin has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.
For genetic risk of Myelodysplastic Syndrome due to abnormalities in genes RUNX1 and NSD1 – Foods like Mung Bean are recommended compared to Soy Bean. This is because the active ingredients Aescin and Lecithin in Soy Bean further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Quercetin and Vitamin C contained in Mung Bean together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.
RECOMMENDATION: MUNG BEAN IS RECOMMENDED OVER SOY BEAN FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME DUE TO GENES RUNX1 AND NSD1
Eat more vegetables, Jicama or Radish?
The active ingredients contained in Jicama are Vitamin C, Beta-carotene, Vitamin B3, Vitamin A, Folic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Radish are Beta-sitosterol, Quercetin, Vitamin C, Oleic Acid, P-coumaric Acid and others.
Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, P53 Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. Beta-carotene has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and MYC Signaling.
Pelargonidin can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways P53 Signaling, RAS-RAF Signaling and MYC Signaling. And so on.
For genetic risk of Myelodysplastic Syndrome due to abnormalities in genes RUNX1 and NSD1 – Foods like Jicama are recommended compared to Radish. This is because the active ingredients Pelargonidin and Folic Acid in Radish further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Vitamin C and Beta-carotene contained in Jicama together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.
RECOMMENDATION: JICAMA IS RECOMMENDED OVER RADISH FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME DUE TO GENES RUNX1 AND NSD1
Foods to Eat After Cancer Diagnosis!
No two cancers are the same. Go beyond the common nutrition guidelines for everyone and make personalized decisions about food and supplements with confidence.
Eat more fruits, Feijoa or Huckleberry?
The active ingredients contained in Feijoa are Lycopene, Vitamin C, Casuarinin, Folic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Huckleberry are Resveratrol, Quercetin, Vitamin C, P-coumaric Acid, Ferulic Acid and others.
Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, P53 Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. Lycopene has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, RAS-RAF Signaling and MYC Signaling.
Resveratrol can manipulate biochemical pathways P53 Signaling. Pelargonidin has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.
For genetic risk of Myelodysplastic Syndrome due to abnormalities in genes RUNX1 and NSD1 – Foods like Feijoa are recommended compared to Huckleberry. This is because the active ingredients Resveratrol and Pelargonidin in Huckleberry 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 HUCKLEBERRY FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME DUE TO GENES RUNX1 AND NSD1
Eat more nuts, Almond or Acorn?
The active ingredients contained in Almond are Vitamin E, Beta-sitosterol, Quercetin, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Acorn are Beta-sitosterol, Quercetin, Vitamin C, Beta-carotene, Vitamin B3 and others.
Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, P53 Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. Vitamin E has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, MYC Signaling and P53 Signaling.
Vitamin B2 can manipulate biochemical pathways Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, P53 Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. And so on.
For genetic risk of Myelodysplastic Syndrome due to abnormalities in genes RUNX1 and NSD1 – Foods like Almond are recommended compared to Acorn. This is because the active ingredients Vitamin B2 and Folic Acid in Acorn 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 ACORN FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME DUE TO GENES RUNX1 AND NSD1
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 Myelodysplastic Syndrome 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.
References
- Mds Mskcc 2020
- Genomic Classification and Prognosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
- Functional genomic landscape of acute myeloid leukaemia.
- Clinical and biological implications of driver mutations in myelodysplastic syndromes.
- Helicteric Acid, Oleanic Acid, and Betulinic Acid, Three Triterpenes from Helicteres angustifolia L., Inhibit Proliferation and Induce Apoptosis in HT-29 Colorectal Cancer Cells via Suppressing NF-κB and STAT3 Signaling.
- The synergy of Vitamin C with decitabine activates TET2 in leukemic cells and significantly improves overall survival in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
- Alpha-linolenic acid confers protection on mice renal cells against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.
- Crystal structure of a human cyclin-dependent kinase 6 complex with a flavonol inhibitor, fisetin.
- Paederia foetida induces anticancer activity by modulating chromatin modification enzymes and altering pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression in human prostate cancer cells.
- Small-molecule inhibitors of NADPH oxidase 4.
- Gamma- and delta-tocotrienols exert a more potent anticancer effect than alpha-tocopheryl succinate on breast cancer cell lines irrespective of HER-2/neu expression.
- The recruitment of Raf-1 to membranes is mediated by direct interaction with phosphatidic acid and is independent of association with Ras.
- Lycopene metabolite, apo-10′-lycopenoic acid, inhibits diethylnitrosamine-initiated, high fat diet-promoted hepatic inflammation and tumorigenesis in mice.
- Resveratrol, a remarkable inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase.
- Pelargonidin suppresses adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells through inhibition of PPAR-γ signaling pathway.
- Effects of β-carotene on Expression of Selected MicroRNAs, Histone Acetylation, and DNA Methylation in Colon Cancer Stem Cells.
- Effects of folate deficiency on gene expression in the apoptosis and cancer pathways in colon cancer cells.
- Methyl Donor Micronutrients that Modify DNA Methylation and Cancer Outcome.
- HyperFoods: Machine intelligent mapping of cancer-beating molecules in foods.
Personalized Nutrition for Cancer!
Cancer changes with time. Customize and modify your nutrition based on cancer indication, treatments, lifestyle, food preferences, allergies and other factors.