Introduction
Foods for Meningioma 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.
For Meningioma 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 Meningioma 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 Meningioma?
For example does it matter if vegetable Sweet Potato is consumed more compared to Endive? Does it make any difference if fruit Breadnut Tree Seed is preferred over Sweet Orange? Also if similar choices are made for nuts/seeds like Cashew Nut over Butternut and for pulses like Green Bean over Cowpea. And if what I eat matters – then how does one identify foods which are recommended for Meningioma and is it the same answer for everyone with the same diagnosis or genetic risk?
Yes! Foods you eat matters for Meningioma!
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 Breadnut Tree Seed contains active ingredients Caffeine, Curcumin, Daidzein, Genistein, Apigenin. And Sweet Orange contains active ingredients Hesperetin, Caffeine, Vitamin D3, Ferulic Acid, Curcumin and possibly others.
A common mistake made when deciding and choosing foods to eat for Meningioma – 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 Meningioma.
YES – FOOD CHOICES MATTER FOR CANCER. NUTRITION DECISIONS MUST CONSIDER ALL ACTIVE INGREDIENTS OF FOODS.
Skills Needed for Nutrition Personalization for Meningioma?
Personalized nutrition for cancers like Meningioma 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 Meningioma 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.
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.
Characteristics of cancers like Meningioma
All cancers like Meningioma can be characterized by a unique set of biochemical pathways – the signature pathways of Meningioma. Biochemical pathways like DNA Repair, Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics, Suppressive Histone Methylation, mRNA Splicing are part of the signature definition of Meningioma. Each individual’s cancer genetics can be different and hence their specific cancer signature could be unique.
The treatments which are effective for Meningioma 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 Meningioma when taking cancer treatment Temozolomide, 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.
DNMT3A, TET2, NF2, TERT and ASXL1 are the top ranked reported genes for Meningioma. DNMT3A is reported in 46.2 % of the representative patients across all clinical trials. And TET2 is reported in 15.4 %. The combined population patient data cover ages from 10 to 83. 40.4 % of the patient data are identified as men. The Meningioma 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 Meningioma
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 SWEET POTATO or ENDIVE?
Vegetable Sweet Potato contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Quercetin, Curcumin, Beta-carotene, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair and others. Sweet Potato is recommended for Meningioma when ongoing cancer treatment is Temozolomide. This is because Sweet Potato modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Temozolomide.
Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in vegetable Endive are Quercetin, Curcumin, Beta-carotene, Daidzein, Genistein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair and others. Endive is not recommended for Meningioma when ongoing cancer treatment is Temozolomide because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.
VEGETABLE SWEET POTATO IS RECOMMENDED OVER ENDIVE FOR Meningioma AND TREATMENT Temozolomide.
Choose Fruit SWEET ORANGE or BREADNUT TREE SEED?
Fruit Sweet Orange contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Hesperetin, Caffeine, Vitamin D3, Ferulic Acid, Curcumin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Hedgehog Signaling and others. Sweet Orange is recommended for Meningioma when ongoing cancer treatment is Temozolomide. This is because Sweet Orange modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Temozolomide.
Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in fruit Breadnut Tree Seed are Caffeine, Curcumin, Daidzein, Genistein, Apigenin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair and others. Breadnut Tree Seed is not recommended for Meningioma when ongoing cancer treatment is Temozolomide because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.
FRUIT SWEET ORANGE IS RECOMMENDED OVER BREADNUT TREE SEED FOR Meningioma AND TREATMENT Temozolomide.
Choose Nut CASHEW NUT or BUTTERNUT?
Cashew Nut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Quercetin, Curcumin, Beta-carotene, Daidzein, Gallic Acid. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair and others. Cashew Nut is recommended for Meningioma when ongoing cancer treatment is Temozolomide. This is because Cashew Nut modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Temozolomide.
Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in Butternut are Caffeine, Curcumin, Daidzein, Juglone, Genistein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair and others. Butternut is not recommended for Meningioma when ongoing cancer treatment is Temozolomide because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.
CASHEW NUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER BUTTERNUT FOR Meningioma AND TREATMENT Temozolomide.

For Individuals with Genetic Risk of Cancer
The question asked by individuals who have genetic risk of Meningioma 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 GARLAND CHRYSANTHEMUM?
Vegetable Giant Butterbur contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Formononetin, Lupeol, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle Checkpoints, MYC Signaling, Angiogenesis and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Giant Butterbur is recommended for risk of Meningioma when associated genetic risk is ASXL1. 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 Garland Chrysanthemum are Apigenin, Curcumin, Formononetin, Lupeol, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cytoskeletal Dynamics and Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and others. Garland Chrysanthemum is not recommended when risk of Meningioma when associated genetic risk is ASXL1 because it increases the signature pathways of it.
VEGETABLE GIANT BUTTERBUR IS RECOMMENDED OVER GARLAND CHRYSANTHEMUM FOR ASXL1 GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.
Choose Fruit NANCE or GRAPEFRUIT?
Fruit Nance contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Formononetin, Lupeol, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle Checkpoints, MYC Signaling, Angiogenesis and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Nance is recommended for risk of Meningioma when associated genetic risk is ASXL1. This is because Nance increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.
Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in fruit Grapefruit are Curcumin, Formononetin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Bergapten. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Hippo Signaling, MYC Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Grapefruit is not recommended when risk of Meningioma when associated genetic risk is ASXL1 because it increases the signature pathways of it.
FRUIT NANCE IS RECOMMENDED OVER GRAPEFRUIT FOR ASXL1 GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.
Choose Nut COMMON WALNUT or PUMPKIN SEEDS?
Common Walnut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Quercetin, Formononetin, Lupeol, Ellagic Acid. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle Checkpoints, Hypoxia, Suppressive Histone Methylation and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Common Walnut is recommended for risk of Meningioma when associated genetic risk is ASXL1. This is because Common Walnut increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.
Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in Pumpkin Seeds are Beta-sitosterol, Oleic Acid, Stigmasterol, Linolenic Acid, Cucurbitacin I. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like JAK-STAT Signaling, Cytoskeletal Dynamics, MYC Signaling and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Pumpkin Seeds is not recommended when risk of Meningioma when associated genetic risk is ASXL1 because it increases the signature pathways of it.
COMMON WALNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER PUMPKIN SEEDS FOR ASXL1 GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

In Conclusion
Foods and Supplements chosen are important decisions for cancers like Meningioma. Meningioma 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 Meningioma, 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 Sweet Potato 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 Meningioma?”. The addon multi-disciplinary team includes cancer physicians, clinical scientists, software engineers and data scientists.
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.
References
- Msk Impact 2017
- Cancer therapy shapes the fitness landscape of clonal hematopoiesis.
- Vitamin D3 triggers antitumor activity through targeting hedgehog signaling in human renal cell carcinoma.
- BRCA1 and BRCA2 as molecular targets for phytochemicals indole-3-carbinol and genistein in breast and prostate cancer cells.
- Hesperetin induces apoptosis of esophageal cancer cells via mitochondrial pathway mediated by the increased intracellular reactive oxygen species.
- Mechanism of Juglone-Induced Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Ishikawa Human Endometrial Cancer Cells.
- Daidzein effect on hormone refractory prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo compared to genistein and soy extract: potentiation of radiotherapy.
- New concepts in phospholipase D signaling in inflammation and cancer.