Which Foods are Recommended for Nasopharyngeal Cancer?

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 Nasopharyngeal Cancer when undergoing chemotherapy or when you determine you have a genetic risk for developing Nasopharyngeal Cancer because of RYR2 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 Nasopharyngeal Cancer 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 Cranberry” or “Include fruit Persimmon in my diet” or “Should I reduce consumption of vegetable Carob” or “Can I take Dim and Alpha Lipoic Acid 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 NASOPHARYNGEAL CANCER, TREATMENTS, GENETIC INFORMATION, AND OTHER CONDITIONS.

The overall objective of personalized nutrition for Nasopharyngeal Cancer 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 NASOPHARYNGEAL CANCER, WHEN TREATMENTS, DISEASE STATUS AND OTHER CONDITIONS CHANGE.

About Nasopharyngeal Cancer

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 Nasopharyngeal Cancer from cBioPortal. The patients enrolled in the studies for Nasopharyngeal Cancer are in ages between 36 to 80 with an average age of 54. 74.0% of males and 26.0% of females were the distribution of gender in these clinical studies. From a patient sample size of 131; the top genes with mutations and other abnormalities for Nasopharyngeal Cancer include genes KMT2D, CDKN2A, TP53, RYR2 and NSD1. The occurrence frequency distribution for these genes respectively is 5.5%, 4.4%, 3.3%, 3.3% and 3.3%. These tumor genetic details of Nasopharyngeal Cancer are mapped to molecular biochemical pathway drivers of cancer thereby providing definition of characteristic features of Nasopharyngeal Cancer.

Significance of Nutrition for Nasopharyngeal Cancer

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 Nasopharyngeal Cancer. 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 Cranberry includes active ingredients Ellagic Acid, Quercetin, Delphinidin, Resveratrol, Myricetin and others. And Persimmon contains active ingredients Quercetin, Lupeol, Lycopene, Fisetin, Betulinic 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 Nasopharyngeal Cancer, activation or inhibition of selected biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle, Cell Cycle Checkpoints, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, MAPK 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 Nasopharyngeal Cancer, 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 NASOPHARYNGEAL CANCER – CONSIDER HIGH QUANTITY ACTIVE INGREDIENTS CONTAINED IN FOODS.

Foods for Nasopharyngeal Cancer undergoing chemotherapy treatment

In Nasopharyngeal Cancer – the genes KMT2D, CDKN2A, TP53, RYR2 and NSD1 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 Nasopharyngeal Cancer are Cell Cycle, Cell Cycle Checkpoints, Hippo Signaling and others. Cyclophosphamide 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, Cell Cycle Checkpoints, Hippo 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 Pigeon Pea?

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

Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways NFKB Signaling, Cell Cycle and MYC Signaling. Vitamin C has biological action on biochemical pathways Growth Factor Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and MAPK Signaling.

Genistein can manipulate biochemical pathways Hippo Signaling, DNA Repair and Oxidative Stress. Linolenic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. And so on.

When treating Nasopharyngeal Cancer with chemotherapy Cyclophosphamide – Foods like Common Pea 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 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 PIGEON PEA FOR NASOPHARYNGEAL CANCER ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Eat more vegetables, Jicama or Carob?

Vegetables are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Jicama are Vitamin C, Beta-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin B3, Folic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Carob are Quercetin, Myricetin, Gallic Acid, Phloroglucinol, Palmitic Acid and others.

Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways Growth Factor Signaling, Cell Cycle and MYC Signaling. Beta-carotene has biological action on biochemical pathways NFKB Signaling, DNA Repair and Cell Cycle Checkpoints.

Palmitic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways NFKB Signaling, Growth Factor Signaling and MAPK Signaling. Quercetin has biological action on biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. And so on.

When treating Nasopharyngeal Cancer with chemotherapy Cyclophosphamide – Foods like Jicama are recommended compared to Carob. This is because the active ingredients Palmitic Acid and Quercetin in Carob interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Vitamin C and Beta-carotene contained in Jicama support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.

RECOMMENDATION: JICAMA IS RECOMMENDED OVER CAROB FOR NASOPHARYNGEAL CANCER ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Eat more fruits, Persimmon or Cranberry?

Fruits are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Persimmon are Quercetin, Lupeol, Lycopene, Fisetin, Betulinic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Cranberry are Ellagic Acid, Quercetin, Delphinidin, Resveratrol, Myricetin and others.

Lycopene can manipulate biochemical pathways NFKB Signaling, Growth Factor Signaling and JAK-STAT Signaling. Vitamin C has biological action on biochemical pathways Cell Cycle, MYC Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints.

Ellagic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. Quercetin has biological action on biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. And so on.

When treating Nasopharyngeal Cancer with chemotherapy Cyclophosphamide – Foods like Persimmon are recommended compared to Cranberry. This is because the active ingredients Ellagic Acid and Quercetin in Cranberry interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Lycopene and Vitamin C contained in Persimmon support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.

RECOMMENDATION: PERSIMMON IS RECOMMENDED OVER CRANBERRY FOR NASOPHARYNGEAL CANCER ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Eat more nuts, Pecan Nut or Brazil Nut?

Nuts are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Pecan Nut are Vitamin E, Delphinidin, Cianidanol, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Brazil Nut are Vitamin E, Oleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Lecithin, Folic Acid and others.

Vitamin E can manipulate biochemical pathways NFKB Signaling, Growth Factor Signaling and DNA Repair. Delphinidin has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, MAPK Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.

Lecithin can manipulate biochemical pathways NFKB Signaling, JAK-STAT Signaling and MYC Signaling. Linolenic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. And so on.

When treating Nasopharyngeal Cancer with chemotherapy Cyclophosphamide – Foods like Pecan Nut are recommended compared to Brazil Nut. This is because the active ingredients Lecithin and Linolenic Acid in Brazil Nut interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Vitamin E and Delphinidin contained in Pecan Nut support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.

RECOMMENDATION: PECAN NUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER BRAZIL NUT FOR NASOPHARYNGEAL CANCER ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE FOR SOME CONDITIONS.

Foods for Genetic Risk of Nasopharyngeal Cancer

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. RYR2 and NSD1 are two genes whose abnormalities are risk factors for Nasopharyngeal Cancer. 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 Nasopharyngeal Cancer can be used as a guide for coming up with a recommended personalized nutrition plan. For Nasopharyngeal Cancer gene RYR2 has causative impact on biological pathways like G-protein-coupled Receptor Signaling and G-protein-coupled Receptor 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 RYR2 and NSD1 should be included in a personalized nutrition plan. And those foods and supplements which promote the effects of genes RYR2 and NSD1 should be avoided.

Eat more pulses, Mung Bean or Soy Bean?

The active ingredients contained in Mung Bean are Quercetin, Linolenic Acid, Vitamin C, Oleic Acid, Stigmasterol among others. While the active ingredients contained in Soy Bean are Lupeol, Quercetin, Daidzein, Vitamin E, Beta-sitosterol and others.

Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways Apoptosis, MYC Signaling and P53 Signaling. Stigmasterol has biological action on biochemical pathways Cell Cycle Checkpoints, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and Apoptosis.

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 Nasopharyngeal Cancer due to abnormalities in genes RYR2 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 Vitamin C and Stigmasterol 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 NASOPHARYNGEAL CANCER DUE TO GENES RYR2 AND NSD1

Eat more vegetables, Arugula or Radish?

The active ingredients contained in Arugula are Esculin, Kaempferol, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Erysolin among others. While the active ingredients contained in Radish are Quercetin, Beta-sitosterol, Linolenic Acid, Vitamin C, Oleic Acid and others.

Kaempferol can manipulate biochemical pathways RAS-RAF Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Vitamin A has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Checkpoints.

Pelargonidin can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways Apoptosis, P53 Signaling and RAS-RAF Signaling. And so on.

For genetic risk of Nasopharyngeal Cancer due to abnormalities in genes RYR2 and NSD1 – Foods like Arugula 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 Kaempferol and Vitamin A contained in Arugula together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.

RECOMMENDATION: ARUGULA IS RECOMMENDED OVER RADISH FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF NASOPHARYNGEAL CANCER DUE TO GENES RYR2 AND NSD1

Eat more fruits, Feijoa or Raspberry?

The active ingredients contained in Feijoa are Lycopene, Vitamin C, Casuarinin, Folic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Raspberry are Ellagic Acid, Resveratrol, Quercetin, Vitamin C, Gallic Acid and others.

Vitamin C can manipulate biochemical pathways Apoptosis, MYC Signaling and P53 Signaling. Lycopene has biological action on biochemical pathways Cell Cycle Checkpoints, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and RAS-RAF Signaling.

Ellagic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. Resveratrol has biological action on biochemical pathways P53 Signaling. And so on.

For genetic risk of Nasopharyngeal Cancer due to abnormalities in genes RYR2 and NSD1 – Foods like Feijoa are recommended compared to Raspberry. This is because the active ingredients Ellagic Acid and Resveratrol in Raspberry 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 RASPBERRY FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF NASOPHARYNGEAL CANCER DUE TO GENES RYR2 AND NSD1

Eat more nuts, Pine Nut or Peanut?

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

Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways Apoptosis, MYC Signaling and P53 Signaling. Vitamin K has biological action on biochemical pathways Cell Cycle Checkpoints, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and MYC Signaling.

Lecithin can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways Apoptosis, P53 Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. And so on.

For genetic risk of Nasopharyngeal Cancer due to abnormalities in genes RYR2 and NSD1 – Foods like Pine Nut are recommended compared to Peanut. This is because the active ingredients Lecithin and Folic Acid in Peanut further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Beta-sitosterol and Vitamin K contained in Pine Nut together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.

RECOMMENDATION: PINE NUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER PEANUT FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF NASOPHARYNGEAL CANCER DUE TO GENES RYR2 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 Nasopharyngeal Cancer 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

• Hnc Mskcc 2016
• Mutational landscape of metastatic cancer revealed from prospective clinical sequencing of 10,000 patients.
• 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.
• BRCA1 and BRCA2 as molecular targets for phytochemicals indole-3-carbinol and genistein in breast and prostate cancer cells.
• Alpha-linolenic acid confers protection on mice renal cells against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.
• Lycopene metabolite, apo-10′-lycopenoic acid, inhibits diethylnitrosamine-initiated, high fat diet-promoted hepatic inflammation and tumorigenesis in mice.
• Indeno[1,2-b]indole derivatives as a novel class of potent human protein kinase CK2 inhibitors.
• Small-molecule inhibitors of NADPH oxidase 4.
• β-Carotene inhibits neuroblastoma cell invasion and metastasis in vitro and in vivo by decreasing level of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α.
• Capsaicin attenuates palmitate-induced expression of macrophage inflammatory protein 1 and interleukin 8 by increasing palmitate oxidation and reducing c-Jun activation in THP-1 (human acute monocytic leukemia cell) cells.
• Anti-IL-1 alpha autoantibodies in patients with rheumatic diseases and in healthy subjects.
• Identification of new potent phthalazine derivatives with VEGFR-2 and EGFR kinase inhibitory activity.
• The recruitment of Raf-1 to membranes is mediated by direct interaction with phosphatidic acid and is independent of association with Ras.
• Stigmasterol isolated from marine microalgae Navicula incerta induces apoptosis in human hepatoma HepG2 cells.
• Resveratrol, a remarkable inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase.
• Crystal structure of a human cyclin-dependent kinase 6 complex with a flavonol inhibitor, fisetin.
• Transcriptional activation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 by PML/RARalpha.
• Pelargonidin suppresses adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells through inhibition of PPAR-γ signaling pathway.
• Effects of folate deficiency on gene expression in the apoptosis and cancer pathways in colon cancer cells.
• Research progress on the anticancer effects of vitamin K2.
• HyperFoods: Machine intelligent mapping of cancer-beating molecules in foods.