Foods for Anaplastic Ependymoma!

Introduction

Foods for Anaplastic Ependymoma should be personalized for each individual and also must adapt when cancer treatment or tumor genetic change. The personalization and adaptation must consider all the active ingredients or bioactives contained in different foods with respect to cancer tissue biology, genetics, treatments, lifestyle conditions and diet preferences. Hence while nutrition is one of the very important decisions for a cancer patient and individual at risk of cancer to make – how to choose foods to eat is not an easy task.

Anaplastic ependymoma, a grade 3 cancer, is a challenging and aggressive form of brain tumor, characterized by its distinct pathology and histology, as detailed in anaplastic ependymoma pathology outlines. Classified under the ICD-10 code for medical record-keeping, this type of cancer is known for its potential to be metastatic, making its management complex. The life expectancy and prognosis for patients with anaplastic ependymoma vary, often depending on factors like the presence of metastases and the effectiveness of treatment. Common symptoms include neurological deficits, which are critical in prompting early diagnostic measures. Radiology plays a crucial role in diagnosing anaplastic ependymoma, helping to determine the tumor’s size, location, and potential spread. Treatment typically involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, tailored to each patient’s condition. Recurrence is a significant concern in anaplastic ependymoma (grade 3 recurrence), necessitating close monitoring and follow-up care. Recent research, including the study of anaplastic ependymoma with ZFTA, a genetic marker, has opened new avenues for understanding and treating this formidable disease, offering hope for improved patient outcomes.

For Anaplastic Ependymoma does it matter what vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds one eats?

A very common nutrition question asked by cancer patients and individuals at-genetic risk of cancer is – for cancers like Anaplastic Ependymoma does it matter what foods I eat and which I do not? Or if I follow a plant-based diet is that enough for cancer like Anaplastic Ependymoma?

For example does it matter if vegetable Kai-lan is consumed more compared to Mustard Spinach? Does it make any difference if fruit Mammee Apple is preferred over Lowbush Blueberry? Also if similar choices are made for nuts/seeds like Almond over Beech Nut and for pulses like Black-eyed Pea over Catjang Pea. And if what I eat matters – then how does one identify foods which are recommended for Anaplastic Ependymoma and is it the same answer for everyone with the same diagnosis or genetic risk?

Yes! Foods you eat matters for Anaplastic Ependymoma!

Food recommendations may not be the same for everyone and can be different even for the same diagnosis and genetic risk.

All foods (vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, pulses, oils etc.) and nutritional supplements are made up of more than one active molecular ingredient or bio-actives in different proportions and quantities. Each active ingredient has a unique mechanism of action – which can be activation or inhibition of different biochemical pathways. Simply stated foods and supplements which are recommended are those which do not cause an increase of molecular drivers of cancer but reduce them. Else those foods should not be recommended. Foods contain multiple active ingredients – hence when evaluating foods and supplements you need to consider the impact of all active ingredients cumulatively rather than individually.

For example Mammee Apple contains active ingredients Apigenin, Luteolin, Lupeol, Caffeine, Geraniol. And Lowbush Blueberry contains active ingredients Apigenin, Luteolin, Lupeol, Caffeine, Quercetin and possibly others.

A common mistake made when deciding and choosing foods to eat for Anaplastic Ependymoma – is to evaluate only selected active ingredients contained in foods and ignore the rest. Because different active ingredients contained in foods may have opposing effects on cancer drivers – you cannot cherry pick active ingredients in foods and supplements for making a nutrition decision for Anaplastic Ependymoma.

YES – FOOD CHOICES MATTER FOR CANCER. NUTRITION DECISIONS MUST CONSIDER ALL ACTIVE INGREDIENTS OF FOODS.

Skills Needed for Nutrition Personalization for Anaplastic Ependymoma?

Personalized nutrition for cancers like Anaplastic Ependymoma consists of recommended foods / supplements; not recommended foods / supplements with example recipes which prioritize use of recommended foods. An example of personalized nutrition can be seen at this link.

Deciding which foods are recommended or not is extremely complicated, requiring expertise in Anaplastic Ependymoma biology, food science, genetics, biochemistry along with good understanding of how cancer treatments work and associated vulnerabilities by which the treatments could stop being effective.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE EXPERTISE NEEDED FOR NUTRITION PERSONALIZATION FOR CANCER ARE: CANCER BIOLOGY, FOOD SCIENCE, CANCER TREATMENTS AND GENETICS.

Characteristics of cancers like Anaplastic Ependymoma

All cancers like Anaplastic Ependymoma can be characterized by a unique set of biochemical pathways – the signature pathways of Anaplastic Ependymoma. Biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle, Cell Cycle Checkpoints, RAS-RAF Signaling, Hypoxia are part of the signature definition of Anaplastic Ependymoma. Each individual’s cancer genetics can be different and hence their specific cancer signature could be unique.

The treatments which are effective for Anaplastic Ependymoma need to be cognizant of the associated signature biochemical pathways for each cancer patient and individual at genetic risk. Therefore different treatments with different mechanisms of actions are effective for different patients. Similarly and for the same reasons foods and supplements need to be personalized for each individual. Hence some foods and supplements are recommended for Anaplastic Ependymoma when taking cancer treatment Radiation, and some foods and supplements are not recommended.

Sources like cBioPortal and many others provide population representative patient anonymized data from clinical trials for all cancer indications. This data consists of clinical trial study details like sample size / number of patients, age groups, gender, ethnicity, treatments, tumor site and any genetic mutations.

BRAF, CDC73, CDKN2A, FBXW7 and FH are the top ranked reported genes for Anaplastic Ependymoma. BRAF is reported in 25.0 % of the representative patients across all clinical trials. And CDC73 is reported in 25.0 %. The combined population patient data cover ages from to . 40.0 % of the patient data are identified as men. The Anaplastic Ependymoma biology along with reported genetics together define the population represented signature biochemical pathways for this cancer. If the individual cancer tumor genetics or genes contributing to the risk are also known then that should also be used for nutrition personalization.

NUTRITION CHOICES SHOULD MATCH WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL’S CANCER SIGNATURE.

Food and Supplements for Anaplastic Ependymoma

For Cancer Patients

Cancer patients on treatment or on palliative care need to make decisions on food and supplements – for the needed dietary calories, for managing any treatment side effects and also for improved cancer management. All plant-based foods are not equal and choosing and prioritizing foods which are personalized and customized to ongoing cancer treatment is important and complicated. Here are some examples providing guidelines for making nutrition decisions.

Choose Vegetable KAI-LAN or MUSTARD SPINACH?

Vegetable Kai-lan contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Lupeol, Caffeine, Quercetin, Geraniol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle and others. Kai-lan is recommended for Anaplastic Ependymoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Radiation. This is because Kai-lan modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Radiation.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in vegetable Mustard Spinach are Apigenin, Luteolin, Lupeol, Caffeine, Geraniol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle and others. Mustard Spinach is not recommended for Anaplastic Ependymoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Radiation because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

VEGETABLE KAI-LAN IS RECOMMENDED OVER MUSTARD SPINACH FOR Anaplastic Ependymoma AND TREATMENT Radiation.

Choose Fruit LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY or MAMMEE APPLE?

Fruit Lowbush Blueberry contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Luteolin, Lupeol, Caffeine, Quercetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle and others. Lowbush Blueberry is recommended for Anaplastic Ependymoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Radiation. This is because Lowbush Blueberry modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Radiation.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in fruit Mammee Apple are Apigenin, Luteolin, Lupeol, Caffeine, Geraniol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle and others. Mammee Apple is not recommended for Anaplastic Ependymoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Radiation because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

FRUIT LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY IS RECOMMENDED OVER MAMMEE APPLE FOR Anaplastic Ependymoma AND TREATMENT Radiation.

Choose Nut ALMOND or BEECH NUT?

Almond contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Lupeol, Geraniol, Daidzein, Salicylic Acid, Eugenol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle and others. Almond is recommended for Anaplastic Ependymoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Radiation. This is because Almond modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Radiation.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in Beech Nut are Apigenin, Luteolin, Lupeol, Caffeine, Geraniol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle and others. Beech Nut is not recommended for Anaplastic Ependymoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Radiation because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

ALMOND IS RECOMMENDED OVER BEECH NUT FOR Anaplastic Ependymoma AND TREATMENT Radiation.

For Individuals with Genetic Risk of Cancer

The question asked by individuals who have genetic risk of Anaplastic Ependymoma or familial history is “What Should I Eat Differently from Before?” and how they should choose foods and supplements to manage risks of the disease. Since for cancer risk there is nothing actionable in terms of treatment – decisions of foods and supplements become important and one of the very few actionable things which can be done. All plant-based foods are not equal and based on identified genetics and pathway signature – the choices of food and supplements should be personalized.

Choose Vegetable GIANT BUTTERBUR or BLACK CABBAGE?

Vegetable Giant Butterbur contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Lupeol, Lycopene, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Angiogenesis, Cell Cycle, Apoptosis and P53 Signaling and others. Giant Butterbur is recommended for risk of Anaplastic Ependymoma when associated genetic risk is BRAF. This is because Giant Butterbur increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in vegetable Black Cabbage are Apigenin, Curcumin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Phloretin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and MAPK Signaling and others. Black Cabbage is not recommended when risk of Anaplastic Ependymoma when associated genetic risk is BRAF because it increases the signature pathways of it.

VEGETABLE GIANT BUTTERBUR IS RECOMMENDED OVER BLACK CABBAGE FOR BRAF GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

Choose Fruit NANCE or PUMMELO?

Fruit Nance contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Phloretin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle, Hypoxia and P53 Signaling and others. Nance is recommended for risk of Anaplastic Ependymoma when associated genetic risk is BRAF. This is because Nance increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in fruit Pummelo are Apigenin, Curcumin, Quercetin, Lupeol, Lycopene. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and MYC Signaling and others. Pummelo is not recommended when risk of Anaplastic Ependymoma when associated genetic risk is BRAF because it increases the signature pathways of it.

FRUIT NANCE IS RECOMMENDED OVER PUMMELO FOR BRAF GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

Choose Nut COMMON HAZELNUT or CASHEW NUT?

Common Hazelnut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Quercetin, Lupeol, Lycopene, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle, Apoptosis, Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and P53 Signaling and others. Common Hazelnut is recommended for risk of Anaplastic Ependymoma when associated genetic risk is BRAF. This is because Common Hazelnut increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in Cashew Nut are Curcumin, Quercetin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Phloretin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics, MAPK Signaling and MYC Signaling and others. Cashew Nut is not recommended when risk of Anaplastic Ependymoma when associated genetic risk is BRAF because it increases the signature pathways of it.

COMMON HAZELNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER CASHEW NUT FOR BRAF GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

In Conclusion

Foods and Supplements chosen are important decisions for cancers like Anaplastic Ependymoma. Anaplastic Ependymoma patients and individuals with genetic-risk always have this question: “What foods and nutritional supplements are recommended for me and which are not?” There is a common belief which is a misconception that all plant-based foods could be beneficial or not but would not be harmful. Certain foods and supplements can interfere with cancer treatments or promote molecular pathway drivers of cancer.

There are different types of cancer indications like Anaplastic Ependymoma, each with different tumor genetics with further genomic variations across each individual. Further every cancer treatment and chemotherapy has a unique mechanism of action. Each food like Kai-lan contains various bioactives in different quantities, which have an impact on different and distinct sets of biochemical pathways. The definition of personalized nutrition is individualized food recommendations for the cancer indication, treatments, genetics, lifestyle and other factors. Nutrition personalization decisions for cancer require knowledge of cancer biology, food science and an understanding of different chemotherapy treatments. Finally when there are treatment changes or new genomics is identified – the nutrition personalization needs re-evaluation.

The addon nutrition personalization solution makes the decision making easy and removes all the guesswork in answering the question, “What foods should I choose or not choose for Anaplastic Ependymoma?”. The addon multi-disciplinary team includes cancer physicians, clinical scientists, software engineers and data scientists.

References

• Msk Impact 2017
• Mutational landscape of metastatic cancer revealed from prospective clinical sequencing of 10,000 patients.
• Shikimic acid promotes estrogen receptor(ER)-positive breast cancer cells proliferation via activation of NF-κB signaling.
• Lupeol induces S-phase arrest and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in cervical cancer cells.
• Growth stimulation of human pulmonary adenocarcinoma cells and small airway epithelial cells by beta-carotene via activation of cAMP, PKA, CREB and ERK1/2.