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 Acral Melanoma when undergoing chemotherapy or when you determine you have a genetic risk for developing Acral Melanoma because of PPM1D and ASXL1 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 Acral Melanoma 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 Bayberry” or “Include fruit Saskatoon Berry in my diet” or “Should I reduce consumption of vegetable Spinach” or “Can I take D-limonene and Lycopene 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 ACRAL MELANOMA, TREATMENTS, GENETIC INFORMATION, AND OTHER CONDITIONS.
The overall objective of personalized nutrition for Acral Melanoma 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 ACRAL MELANOMA, WHEN TREATMENTS, DISEASE STATUS AND OTHER CONDITIONS CHANGE.
About Acral Melanoma
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 Acral Melanoma from cBioPortal. The patients enrolled in the studies for Acral Melanoma are in ages between 5 to 96 with an average age of 64. 60.8% of males and 39.2% of females were the distribution of gender in these clinical studies. From a patient sample size of 975; the top genes with mutations and other abnormalities for Acral Melanoma include genes DNMT3A, TET2, PPM1D, ASXL1 and ATM. The occurrence frequency distribution for these genes respectively is 31.6%, 11.8%, 5.6%, 4.9% and 4.5%. These tumor genetic details of Acral Melanoma are mapped to molecular biochemical pathway drivers of cancer thereby providing definition of characteristic features of Acral Melanoma.
Acral melanoma also called acral lentiginous melanoma is a rare form of skin cancer that usually appears on the palms and soles and under the nail beds. Acral melanoma is the most commonly diagnosed type of melanoma seen in darker-skinned, older adult individuals, mostly between the ages of 60 and 70 years. The incidence of acral melanoma increases with age with a sharp increase in incidence seen after the age of 80 years. Acral melanomas are usually flat, gray, brown, black, or sometimes reddish or pinkish lesions with irregular borders. Symptoms of acral melanoma include unexplained streak in a nail; dark colored marks with irregular borders; changing or growing lesion on the foot or hand; thick patch of skin on the sole or palm, itchy or inflamed lesion on the hands or feet. Acral melanoma is treated with surgery, with the goal to remove the lesion as well as some healthy surrounding skin to capture as much of the cancerous margins as possible. Some patients may require further treatment with newer immunotherapy or targeted therapy agents as well. Prognosis of acral melanoma varies based on multiple clinical and pathological factors, but those with positive lymph nodes have a strong possibility of disease recurrence. Alternative supportive care with the right nutrition (foods and natural supplements), with bioactives to counteract the underlying disease pathways, can also help with improving patients’ well-being. (Ref: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559113/; https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/melanoma/types/acral-lentiginous-melanoma; https://www.healthline.com/health/acral-lentiginous-melanoma)
Significance of Nutrition for Acral Melanoma
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 Acral Melanoma. 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 Bayberry includes active ingredients Myricetin, Gallic Acid, Linalool, Caffeic Acid, Lupeol and others. And Saskatoon Berry contains active ingredients Quercetin, Delphinidin 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 Acral Melanoma, activation or inhibition of selected biochemical pathways like RAS-RAF Signaling, Inositol Phosphate Signaling, Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics, PI3K-AKT-MTOR 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 Acral Melanoma, 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 ACRAL MELANOMA – CONSIDER HIGH QUANTITY ACTIVE INGREDIENTS CONTAINED IN FOODS.
Foods for Acral Melanoma undergoing chemotherapy treatment
In Acral Melanoma – the genes DNMT3A, TET2, PPM1D, ASXL1 and ATM 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 Acral Melanoma are RAS-RAF Signaling, Inositol Phosphate Signaling, Adherens junction and others. Vemurafenib is one of the chemotherapies used for cancer treatment. The intent of treatment is to negate or cancel out effects of biochemical pathway drivers RAS-RAF Signaling, Inositol Phosphate Signaling, Adherens junction 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, Adzuki Bean or Lima Bean?
Pulses are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Adzuki Bean are Isoliquiritigenin, Genistein, Glucaric Acid, Folic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Lima Bean are Genistein, Vitamin C, Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Vitamin A and others.
Glucaric Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, Inositol Phosphate Signaling and Cell Survival. Isoliquiritigenin has biological action on biochemical pathways Adherens junction, DNA Repair and Growth Factor Signaling.
Genistein can manipulate biochemical pathways DNA Repair. Vitamin C has biological action on biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. And so on.
When treating Acral Melanoma with chemotherapy Vemurafenib – Foods like Adzuki Bean are recommended compared to Lima Bean. This is because the active ingredients Genistein and Vitamin C in Lima Bean interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Glucaric Acid and Isoliquiritigenin contained in Adzuki Bean support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.
RECOMMENDATION: ADZUKI BEAN IS RECOMMENDED OVER LIMA BEAN FOR ACRAL MELANOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY VEMURAFENIB FOR SOME CONDITIONS.
Eat more vegetables, Jicama or Spinach?
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 Spinach are Quercetin, Kaempferol, Apigenin, Linolenic Acid, Beta-sitosterol and others.
Beta-carotene can manipulate biochemical pathways Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, Adherens junction and DNA Repair. Vitamin A has biological action on biochemical pathways TGFB Signaling, MYC Signaling and WNT Beta Catenin Signaling.
Apigenin can manipulate biochemical pathways Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, Insulin Signaling and Cell Junctions. Vitamin C has biological action on biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. And so on.
When treating Acral Melanoma with chemotherapy Vemurafenib – Foods like Jicama are recommended compared to Spinach. This is because the active ingredients Apigenin and Vitamin C in Spinach interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Beta-carotene and Vitamin A contained in Jicama support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.
RECOMMENDATION: JICAMA IS RECOMMENDED OVER SPINACH FOR ACRAL MELANOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY VEMURAFENIB FOR SOME CONDITIONS.
Eat more fruits, Saskatoon Berry or Bayberry?
Fruits are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Saskatoon Berry are Quercetin, Delphinidin among others. While the active ingredients contained in Bayberry are Myricetin, Gallic Acid, Linalool, Caffeic Acid, Lupeol and others.
Delphinidin can manipulate biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress, Growth Factor Signaling and MYC Signaling. Quercetin has biological action on biochemical pathways Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, Inositol Phosphate Signaling and Adherens junction.
Beta-caryophyllene can manipulate biochemical pathways Oxidative Stress. Myricetin has biological action on biochemical pathways PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling. And so on.
When treating Acral Melanoma with chemotherapy Vemurafenib – Foods like Saskatoon Berry are recommended compared to Bayberry. This is because the active ingredients Beta-caryophyllene and Myricetin in Bayberry interferes with treatment action by canceling out the biochemical pathways through which the chemotherapy works. While the active ingredients Delphinidin and Quercetin contained in Saskatoon Berry support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.
RECOMMENDATION: SASKATOON BERRY IS RECOMMENDED OVER BAYBERRY FOR ACRAL MELANOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY VEMURAFENIB FOR SOME CONDITIONS.
Eat more nuts, Pine Nut or Pumpkin Seeds?
Nuts are an important part of many diets. The active ingredients contained in Pine Nut are Vitamin E, Linolenic Acid, Beta-sitosterol, Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Pumpkin Seeds are Cucurbitacin I, Linolenic Acid, Gamma-linolenic Acid, Beta-sitosterol, Salicylic Acid and others.
Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, Inositol Phosphate Signaling and Adherens junction. Vitamin K has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling.
Lecithin can manipulate biochemical pathways Cell Junctions, Cytoskeletal Dynamics and JAK-STAT Signaling. Cucurbitacin I has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling. And so on.
When treating Acral Melanoma with chemotherapy Vemurafenib – Foods like Pine Nut are recommended compared to Pumpkin Seeds. This is because the active ingredients Lecithin and Cucurbitacin I 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 Vitamin K contained in Pine Nut support the treatment action by enhancing the biochemical pathway effect through which the chemotherapy works.
RECOMMENDATION: PINE NUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER PUMPKIN SEEDS FOR ACRAL MELANOMA ON TREATMENT WITH CHEMOTHERAPY VEMURAFENIB FOR SOME CONDITIONS.
Foods for Genetic Risk of Acral Melanoma
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. PPM1D and ASXL1 are two genes whose abnormalities are risk factors for Acral Melanoma. 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 Acral Melanoma can be used as a guide for coming up with a recommended personalized nutrition plan. For Acral Melanoma gene PPM1D has causative impact on biological pathways like DNA Repair. And ASXL1 has a causative impact on biological pathways like Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and Suppressive Histone Methylation. Foods and nutritional supplements which have molecular action to cancel out biochemical pathways effects of genes like PPM1D and ASXL1 should be included in a personalized nutrition plan. And those foods and supplements which promote the effects of genes PPM1D and ASXL1 should be avoided.
Eat more pulses, Scarlet Bean or Common Bean?
The active ingredients contained in Scarlet Bean are Vitamin C, Beta-sitosterol, Linolenic Acid, Stigmasterol, Genistein among others. While the active ingredients contained in Common Bean are Apigenin, Esculin, Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid, Ferulic Acid and others.
Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways Apoptosis, Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. Stigmasterol has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and Apoptosis.
Pelargonidin can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways Apoptosis, MYC Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. And so on.
For genetic risk of Acral Melanoma due to abnormalities in genes PPM1D and ASXL1 – Foods like Scarlet Bean are recommended compared to Common Bean. This is because the active ingredients Pelargonidin and Folic Acid in Common Bean further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Beta-sitosterol and Stigmasterol contained in Scarlet Bean together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.
RECOMMENDATION: SCARLET BEAN IS RECOMMENDED OVER COMMON BEAN FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF ACRAL MELANOMA DUE TO GENES PPM1D AND ASXL1
Eat more vegetables, Cassava or Heart Of Palm?
The active ingredients contained in Cassava are Vitamin C, Beta-sitosterol, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Heart Of Palm are Vitamin C, Palmitic Acid, Vitamin A, Folic Acid and others.
Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways Apoptosis, Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. Vitamin A has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and Apoptosis.
Palmitic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and mRNA Splicing. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and Apoptosis. And so on.
For genetic risk of Acral Melanoma due to abnormalities in genes PPM1D and ASXL1 – Foods like Cassava are recommended compared to Heart Of Palm. This is because the active ingredients Palmitic Acid and Folic Acid in Heart Of Palm further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Beta-sitosterol and Vitamin A contained in Cassava together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.
RECOMMENDATION: CASSAVA IS RECOMMENDED OVER HEART OF PALM FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF ACRAL MELANOMA DUE TO GENES PPM1D AND ASXL1
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 Graviola?
The active ingredients contained in Feijoa are Lycopene, Vitamin C, Casuarinin, Folic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Graviola are Emodin, Lycopene, Vitamin C, Beta-sitosterol, Daidzein and others.
Lycopene can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and Apoptosis. Casuarinin has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and Apoptosis.
Fisetin can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling. Myricetin has biological action on biochemical pathways Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics. And so on.
For genetic risk of Acral Melanoma due to abnormalities in genes PPM1D and ASXL1 – Foods like Feijoa are recommended compared to Graviola. This is because the active ingredients Fisetin and Myricetin in Graviola further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Lycopene and Casuarinin contained in Feijoa together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.
RECOMMENDATION: FEIJOA IS RECOMMENDED OVER GRAVIOLA FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF ACRAL MELANOMA DUE TO GENES PPM1D AND ASXL1
Eat more nuts, Pistachio or Chestnut?
The active ingredients contained in Pistachio are Beta-sitosterol, Vitamin E, Stigmasterol, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid among others. While the active ingredients contained in Chestnut are Vitamin C, Linolenic Acid, Quercetin, Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid and others.
Beta-sitosterol can manipulate biochemical pathways Apoptosis, Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. Vitamin E has biological action on biochemical pathways MYC Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and Apoptosis.
Ellagic Acid can manipulate biochemical pathways MYC Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. Folic Acid has biological action on biochemical pathways Apoptosis, MYC Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. And so on.
For genetic risk of Acral Melanoma due to abnormalities in genes PPM1D and ASXL1 – Foods like Pistachio are recommended compared to Chestnut. This is because the active ingredients Ellagic Acid and Folic Acid in Chestnut further promote the effects of genes on the biochemical pathways. While the active ingredients Beta-sitosterol and Vitamin E contained in Pistachio together have a canceling effect of genes on the biochemical pathways.
RECOMMENDATION: PISTACHIO IS RECOMMENDED OVER CHESTNUT FOR REDUCING THE GENETIC RISK OF ACRAL MELANOMA DUE TO GENES PPM1D AND ASXL1
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 Acral Melanoma 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
- Msk Impact 2017
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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.