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 Malt Lymphoma when undergoing chemotherapy or when you determine you have a genetic risk for developing Malt Lymphoma because of CREBBP and SPEN 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 Malt Lymphoma 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 Passion Fruit” or “Include fruit Partridgeberry in my diet” or “Should I reduce consumption of vegetable Green Bean” or “Can I take Curcumin and Baicalin 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 MALT LYMPHOMA, TREATMENTS, GENETIC INFORMATION, AND OTHER CONDITIONS.
The overall objective of personalized nutrition for Malt Lymphoma 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 MALT LYMPHOMA, WHEN TREATMENTS, DISEASE STATUS AND OTHER CONDITIONS CHANGE.
About Malt Lymphoma
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 Malt Lymphoma from cBioPortal. The top genes with mutations and other abnormalities for Malt Lymphoma include genes KMT2C, TET2, KMT2D, CREBBP and SPEN. The occurrence frequency distribution for these genes respectively is 18.1%, 13.9%, 13.9%, 13.9% and 12.5%. These tumor genetic details of Malt Lymphoma are mapped to molecular biochemical pathway drivers of cancer thereby providing definition of characteristic features of Malt Lymphoma.
MALT lymphoma is a type of lymphoma, a cancer of the white blood cells or lymphocytes that are part of the lymphatic immune system, that helps the body fight infections. MALT lymphoma is a non-Hodgkin lymphoma that develops from B-cells. It is an extra nodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), which develops in lymphoid tissue outside the lymph nodes. MALT lymphomas are rare, slow-growing, marginal zone lymphomas, that can develop anywhere in the body, but often develop in the stomach. MALT lymphomas are therefore classified as gastric MALT lymphoma which make up about a third of all MALT lymphomas, and non-gastric MALT lymphoma, which most commonly affect the salivary glands, thyroid, lungs, skin, gut or tissues around the eye. MALT lymphoma can occur at any age but more typically develops in older individuals in their 60s. Symptoms of MALT lymphoma depend on where the lymphoma develops. Five-year survival rate for marginal zone lymphoma is 80%. Symptoms for gastric MALT lymphoma include persistent indigestion, tummy pain, nausea, vomiting and weight loss. Non-gastric MALT lymphomas can have varied symptoms based on location of the lymphoma. Treatment strategies for MALT lymphoma include treating infections that might be linked to the lymphoma, radiation therapy, chemo-immunotherapy, or even active monitoring (watch and wait) strategy. In addition, the optimal nutrition (foods and natural supplements) complementary to the disease and treatment can support improvement in patients’ well-being. (Ref: https://lymphoma-action.org.uk/types-lymphoma-non-hodgkin-lymphoma/malt-lymphoma-gastric-and-non-gastric; https://patient.info/doctor/mucosa-associated-lymphoid-tissue-malt-lymphoma)
Significance of Nutrition for Malt Lymphoma
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 Malt Lymphoma. 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 Passion Fruit includes active ingredients Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Vitamin A and others. And Partridgeberry contains active ingredients Resveratrol, Beta-sitosterol, Stigmasterol 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 Malt Lymphoma, activation or inhibition of selected biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle Checkpoints, Apoptosis, Oncogenic Histone Methylation, NFKB 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 Malt Lymphoma, 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 MALT LYMPHOMA – CONSIDER HIGH QUANTITY ACTIVE INGREDIENTS CONTAINED IN FOODS.
Foods for Malt Lymphoma undergoing chemotherapy treatment
In Malt Lymphoma – the genes KMT2C, TET2, KMT2D, CREBBP and SPEN 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 Malt Lymphoma are Cell Cycle Checkpoints, Apoptosis, JAK-STAT Signaling and others. Chlorambucil is one of the chemotherapies used for cancer treatment. The intent of treatment is to negate or cancel out effects of biochemical pathway drivers Cell Cycle Checkpoints, Apoptosis, JAK-STAT Signaling 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, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Lima Bean are Vitamin C, Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Genistein, Vitamin A and others.
Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways NFKB Signaling, Apoptosis and MYC Signaling. Vitamin C has biological action on biochemical pathways P53 Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.
Genistein can manipulate biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways Apoptosis, JAK-STAT Signaling and MYC Signaling. And so on.
When treating Malt Lymphoma with chemotherapy Chlorambucil – Foods like Common Pea are recommended compared to Lima Bean. This is because the active ingredients Genistein and Folic Acid 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 MALT LYMPHOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY CHLORAMBUCIL FOR SOME CONDITIONS.
Eat more vegetables, Cabbage or Green Bean?
Vegetables are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Cabbage are Benzyl Isothiocyanate, Brassinin, Indole-3-carbinol, Beta-sitosterol, Quercetin among others. While the active ingredients contained in Green Bean are Beta-sitosterol, Ferulic Acid, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid and others.
Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways Apoptosis, MYC Signaling and P53 Signaling. Glucaric Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways NFKB Signaling, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and MYC Signaling.
Citric Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. Astragalin has biological action on biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. And so on.
When treating Malt Lymphoma with chemotherapy Chlorambucil – Foods like Cabbage are recommended compared to Green Bean. This is because the active ingredients Citric Acid and Astragalin 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 Glucaric Acid contained in Cabbage support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.
RECOMMENDATION: CABBAGE IS RECOMMENDED OVER GREEN BEAN FOR MALT LYMPHOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY CHLORAMBUCIL FOR SOME CONDITIONS.
Eat more fruits, Partridgeberry or Passion Fruit?
Fruits are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Partridgeberry are Resveratrol, Beta-sitosterol, Stigmasterol among others. While the active ingredients contained in Passion Fruit are Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Vitamin A and others.
Resveratrol can manipulate biochemical pathways NFKB Signaling, Apoptosis and JAK-STAT Signaling. Beta-sitosterol has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, P53 Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints.
Citric Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. Linolenic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. And so on.
When treating Malt Lymphoma with chemotherapy Chlorambucil – Foods like Partridgeberry are recommended compared to Passion Fruit. This is because the active ingredients Citric Acid and Linolenic Acid in Passion Fruit interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Resveratrol and Beta-sitosterol contained in Partridgeberry support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.
RECOMMENDATION: PARTRIDGEBERRY IS RECOMMENDED OVER PASSION FRUIT FOR MALT LYMPHOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY CHLORAMBUCIL FOR SOME CONDITIONS.
Eat more nuts, Hazelnut or Acorn?
Nuts are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Hazelnut are Vitamin E, Quercetin, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Acorn are Beta-sitosterol, Quercetin, Vitamin C, Beta-carotene, Quercitrin and others.
Vitamin E can manipulate biochemical pathways NFKB Signaling, Apoptosis and MYC Signaling. Quercetin has biological action on biochemical pathways JAK-STAT Signaling, P53 Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints.
Quercitrin can manipulate biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. Vitamin B3 has biological action on biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. And so on.
When treating Malt Lymphoma with chemotherapy Chlorambucil – Foods like Hazelnut are recommended compared to Acorn. This is because the active ingredients Quercitrin and Vitamin B3 in Acorn interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Vitamin E and Quercetin contained in Hazelnut support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.
RECOMMENDATION: HAZELNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER ACORN FOR MALT LYMPHOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY CHLORAMBUCIL FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Foods for Genetic Risk of Malt Lymphoma
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. CREBBP and SPEN are two genes whose abnormalities are risk factors for Malt Lymphoma. 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 Malt Lymphoma can be used as a guide for coming up with a recommended personalized nutrition plan. For Malt Lymphoma gene CREBBP has causative impact on biological pathways like G-protein-coupled Receptor Signaling and Immune Evasion Signaling. And SPEN has a causative impact on biological pathways like Notch Signaling. Foods and nutritional supplements which have molecular action to cancel out biochemical pathways effects of genes like CREBBP and SPEN should be included in a personalized nutrition plan. And those foods and supplements which promote the effects of genes CREBBP and SPEN should be avoided.
Eat more pulses, Scarlet Bean or Fava Bean?
The active ingredients contained in Scarlet Bean are Beta-sitosterol, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Vitamin C, Stigmasterol among others. While the active ingredients contained in Fava Bean are Daidzein, Beta-sitosterol, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Vitamin C and others.
Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways NFKB Signaling, Apoptosis and MYC Signaling. Vitamin C has biological action on biochemical pathways P53 Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.
Vitamin A can manipulate biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways Apoptosis, MYC Signaling and P53 Signaling. And so on.
For genetic risk of Malt Lymphoma due to abnormalities in genes CREBBP and SPEN – Foods like Scarlet Bean are recommended compared to Fava Bean. This is because the active ingredients Vitamin A and Folic Acid in Fava 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 FAVA BEAN FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF MALT LYMPHOMA DUE TO GENES CREBBP AND SPEN
Eat more vegetables, Cassava or Celery?
The active ingredients contained in Cassava are Beta-sitosterol, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Vitamin C, Linoleic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Celery are Apigenin, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Vitamin C, Cynaroside and others.
Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways Apoptosis, MYC Signaling and P53 Signaling. Beta-sitosterol has biological action on biochemical pathways NFKB Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.
Luteolin can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling. Chrysin has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling. And so on.
For genetic risk of Malt Lymphoma due to abnormalities in genes CREBBP and SPEN – Foods like Cassava are recommended compared to Celery. This is because the active ingredients Luteolin and Chrysin in Celery further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Vitamin C and Beta-sitosterol contained in Cassava together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.
RECOMMENDATION: CASSAVA IS RECOMMENDED OVER CELERY FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF MALT LYMPHOMA DUE TO GENES CREBBP AND SPEN
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, Cherimoya or Naranjilla?
The active ingredients contained in Cherimoya are Beta-sitosterol, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Vitamin C, Stigmasterol among others. While the active ingredients contained in Naranjilla are Zeaxanthin, Beta-carotene, Vitamin A and others.
Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways NFKB Signaling, Apoptosis and MYC Signaling. Stigmasterol has biological action on biochemical pathways P53 Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.
Beta-carotene can manipulate biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Vitamin A has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.
For genetic risk of Malt Lymphoma due to abnormalities in genes CREBBP and SPEN – Foods like Cherimoya are recommended compared to Naranjilla. This is because the active ingredients Beta-carotene and Vitamin A in Naranjilla further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Beta-sitosterol and Stigmasterol contained in Cherimoya together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.
RECOMMENDATION: CHERIMOYA IS RECOMMENDED OVER NARANJILLA FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF MALT LYMPHOMA DUE TO GENES CREBBP AND SPEN
Eat more nuts, Almond or Chestnut?
The active ingredients contained in Almond are Vitamin E, Beta-sitosterol, Linolenic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Oleic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Chestnut are Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Vitamin C, Ellagic Acid, Quercetin and others.
Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways NFKB Signaling, Apoptosis and MYC Signaling. Vitamin E has biological action on biochemical pathways P53 Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.
Ellagic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. Vitamin A has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.
For genetic risk of Malt Lymphoma due to abnormalities in genes CREBBP and SPEN – Foods like Almond are recommended compared to Chestnut. This is because the active ingredients Ellagic Acid and Vitamin A in Chestnut 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 CHESTNUT FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF MALT LYMPHOMA DUE TO GENES CREBBP AND SPEN

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 Malt Lymphoma 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
- β-Sitosterol targets Trx/Trx1 reductase to induce apoptosis in A549 cells via ROS mediated mitochondrial dysregulation and p53 activation.
- Vitamin C enhances epigenetic modifications induced by 5-azacytidine and cell cycle arrest in the hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HLE and Huh7.
- Effects of folate deficiency on gene expression in the apoptosis and cancer pathways in colon cancer cells.
- Resveratrol selectively induces apoptosis in malignant cells with the JAK2V617F mutation by inhibiting the JAK2 pathway.
- Alpha-linolenic acid confers protection on mice renal cells against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.
- 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.
- Flavonol glycosides from the aerial parts of Aceriphyllum rossii and their antioxidant activities.
- 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.
- Crystal structure of a human cyclin-dependent kinase 6 complex with a flavonol inhibitor, fisetin.
- Quercetin and quercitrin protect against cytokine‑induced injuries in RINm5F β-cells via the mitochondrial pathway and NF-κB signaling.
- Vitamin A regulates Akt signaling through the phospholipid fatty acid composition.
- Stigmasterol isolated from marine microalgae Navicula incerta induces apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2 cells.
- β-carotene Inhibits Expression of c-Myc and Cyclin E in Helicobacter pylori-infected Gastric Epithelial Cells.
- Indeno[1,2-b]indole derivatives as a novel class of potent human protein kinase CK2 inhibitors.
- HyperFoods: Machine intelligent mapping of cancer-beating molecules in foods.
- Resveratrol, pterostilbene, and piceatannol in vaccinium berries.
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.