Foods for Medullary Thyroid Cancer!

Introduction

Foods for Medullary Thyroid Cancer 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.

Medullary thyroid cancer is a rare form of thyroid cancer that originates in the parafollicular C cells of the thyroid gland. Calcitonin is a key marker used in the diagnosis and monitoring of medullary thyroid cancer, as elevated levels are often observed in affected individuals. Survival rates and treatment outcomes for medullary thyroid cancer vary depending on factors such as the stage and spread of the disease. It is important to be aware of the common symptoms associated with medullary thyroid cancer, such as a palpable thyroid nodule, hoarseness, and changes in calcium levels. Medical guidelines can provide valuable insights into the management and treatment strategies for medullary thyroid cancer, ensuring that patients receive the best possible care. Pathology outlines outline the characteristics and features of medullary thyroid cancer cells, helping healthcare professionals make a more accurate diagnosis. Genetic factors also play a role in medullary thyroid cancer, and certain mutations can increase the risk of developing this cancer. Clinical trials may provide opportunities for patients to access new treatment options for medullary thyroid cancer and contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge. Stay informed about the various types of medullary thyroid cancer and the available treatment options, including chemotherapy and other targeted therapies. With proper management and timely intervention, medullary thyroid cancer can be effectively controlled and its impact minimized.

For Medullary Thyroid Cancer 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 Medullary Thyroid Cancer 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 Medullary Thyroid Cancer?

For example does it matter if vegetable Endive is consumed more compared to Sunburst Squash (pattypan Squash)? Does it make any difference if fruit Alaska Blueberry is preferred over Red Raspberry? Also if similar choices are made for nuts/seeds like Cashew Nut over Japanese Walnut and for pulses like Cowpea over Gram Bean. And if what I eat matters – then how does one identify foods which are recommended for Medullary Thyroid Cancer and is it the same answer for everyone with the same diagnosis or genetic risk?

Yes! Foods you eat matters for Medullary Thyroid Cancer!

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 Alaska Blueberry contains active ingredients Curcumin, Lupeol, Protocatechuic Acid, Formononetin, Daidzein. And Red Raspberry contains active ingredients Curcumin, Quercetin, Vitamin C, Ellagic Acid, Lupeol and possibly others.

A common mistake made when deciding and choosing foods to eat for Medullary Thyroid Cancer – 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 Medullary Thyroid Cancer.

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

Skills Needed for Nutrition Personalization for Medullary Thyroid Cancer?

Personalized nutrition for cancers like Medullary Thyroid Cancer 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 Medullary Thyroid Cancer 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 Medullary Thyroid Cancer

All cancers like Medullary Thyroid Cancer can be characterized by a unique set of biochemical pathways – the signature pathways of Medullary Thyroid Cancer. Biochemical pathways like Hypoxia, Oxidative Stress, Growth Factor Signaling, Chromatin Remodeling are part of the signature definition of Medullary Thyroid Cancer. Each individual’s cancer genetics can be different and hence their specific cancer signature could be unique.

The treatments which are effective for Medullary Thyroid Cancer 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 Medullary Thyroid Cancer when taking cancer treatment Axitinib, 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.

RET, KMT2A, EPHA3, ARID1A and BLM are the top ranked reported genes for Medullary Thyroid Cancer. RET is reported in 16.7 % of the representative patients across all clinical trials. And KMT2A is reported in 5.6 %. The combined population patient data cover ages from to . 55.3 % of the patient data are identified as men. The Medullary Thyroid Cancer 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 Medullary Thyroid Cancer

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 ENDIVE or SUNBURST SQUASH (PATTYPAN SQUASH)?

Vegetable Endive contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Quercetin, Vitamin C, Lupeol, Protocatechuic Acid. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like RAS-RAF Signaling, MYC Signaling and Oxidative Stress and others. Endive is recommended for Medullary Thyroid Cancer when ongoing cancer treatment is Axitinib. This is because Endive modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Axitinib.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in vegetable Sunburst Squash (pattypan Squash) are Curcumin, Lupeol, Protocatechuic Acid, Formononetin, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Oxidative Stress and others. Sunburst Squash (pattypan Squash) is not recommended for Medullary Thyroid Cancer when ongoing cancer treatment is Axitinib because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

VEGETABLE ENDIVE IS RECOMMENDED OVER SUNBURST SQUASH (PATTYPAN SQUASH) FOR Medullary Thyroid Cancer AND TREATMENT Axitinib.

Choose Fruit RED RASPBERRY or ALASKA BLUEBERRY?

Fruit Red Raspberry contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Quercetin, Vitamin C, Ellagic Acid, Lupeol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like RAS-RAF Signaling, EPHRIN Signaling, MYC Signaling and Oxidative Stress and others. Red Raspberry is recommended for Medullary Thyroid Cancer when ongoing cancer treatment is Axitinib. This is because Red Raspberry modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Axitinib.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in fruit Alaska Blueberry are Curcumin, Lupeol, Protocatechuic Acid, Formononetin, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Oxidative Stress and others. Alaska Blueberry is not recommended for Medullary Thyroid Cancer when ongoing cancer treatment is Axitinib because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

FRUIT RED RASPBERRY IS RECOMMENDED OVER ALASKA BLUEBERRY FOR Medullary Thyroid Cancer AND TREATMENT Axitinib.

Choose Nut CASHEW NUT or JAPANESE WALNUT?

Cashew Nut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Quercetin, Vitamin C, Lupeol, Protocatechuic Acid. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like RAS-RAF Signaling and Oxidative Stress and others. Cashew Nut is recommended for Medullary Thyroid Cancer when ongoing cancer treatment is Axitinib. This is because Cashew Nut modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Axitinib.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in Japanese Walnut are curcumin, Ellagic Acid, Lupeol, Protocatechuic Acid, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Oxidative Stress and others. Japanese Walnut is not recommended for Medullary Thyroid Cancer when ongoing cancer treatment is Axitinib because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

CASHEW NUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER JAPANESE WALNUT FOR Medullary Thyroid Cancer AND TREATMENT Axitinib.

For Individuals with Genetic Risk of Cancer

The question asked by individuals who have genetic risk of Medullary Thyroid Cancer 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 Curcumin, Apigenin, Myricetin, Lycopene, Lupeol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like MAPK Signaling, RAS-RAF Signaling, EPHRIN Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Giant Butterbur is recommended for risk of Medullary Thyroid Cancer when associated genetic risk is ARID1A. 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 Curcumin, Apigenin, Myricetin, Lupeol, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like MAPK Signaling, DNA Repair and WNT Beta Catenin Signaling and others. Black Cabbage is not recommended when risk of Medullary Thyroid Cancer when associated genetic risk is ARID1A because it increases the signature pathways of it.

VEGETABLE GIANT BUTTERBUR IS RECOMMENDED OVER BLACK CABBAGE FOR ARID1A GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

Choose Fruit NANCE or PUMMELO?

Fruit Nance contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Apigenin, Myricetin, Lupeol, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like MAPK Signaling, RAS-RAF Signaling, EPHRIN Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Nance is recommended for risk of Medullary Thyroid Cancer when associated genetic risk is ARID1A. 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 Curcumin, Apigenin, Quercetin, Lycopene, Lupeol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like WNT Beta Catenin Signaling and others. Pummelo is not recommended when risk of Medullary Thyroid Cancer when associated genetic risk is ARID1A because it increases the signature pathways of it.

FRUIT NANCE IS RECOMMENDED OVER PUMMELO FOR ARID1A GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

Choose Nut COMMON HAZELNUT or CHESTNUT?

Common Hazelnut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Quercetin, Myricetin, Lycopene, Lupeol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like MAPK Signaling, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, RAS-RAF Signaling and EPHRIN Signaling and others. Common Hazelnut is recommended for risk of Medullary Thyroid Cancer when associated genetic risk is ARID1A. This is because Common Hazelnut increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in Chestnut are Curcumin, Apigenin, Ellagic Acid, Myricetin, Lycopene. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair and WNT Beta Catenin Signaling and others. Chestnut is not recommended when risk of Medullary Thyroid Cancer when associated genetic risk is ARID1A because it increases the signature pathways of it.

COMMON HAZELNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER CHESTNUT FOR ARID1A GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

In Conclusion

Foods and Supplements chosen are important decisions for cancers like Medullary Thyroid Cancer. Medullary Thyroid Cancer 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 Medullary Thyroid Cancer, 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 Endive 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 Medullary Thyroid Cancer?”. The addon multi-disciplinary team includes cancer physicians, clinical scientists, software engineers and data scientists.

References

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