Foods for Thymic Carcinoma!

Introduction

Foods for Thymic Carcinoma 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 Thymic Carcinoma 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 Thymic Carcinoma 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 Thymic Carcinoma?

For example does it matter if vegetable Cauliflower is consumed more compared to Napa Cabbage? Does it make any difference if fruit Lime is preferred over Pomegranate? Also if similar choices are made for nuts/seeds like Butternut over European Chestnut and for pulses like Adzuki Bean over Green Bean. And if what I eat matters – then how does one identify foods which are recommended for Thymic Carcinoma and is it the same answer for everyone with the same diagnosis or genetic risk?

Yes! Foods you eat matters for Thymic Carcinoma!

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 Lime contains active ingredients Curcumin, Lupeol, Caffeine, Lycopene, Daidzein. And Pomegranate contains active ingredients Apigenin, Ellagic Acid, Quercetin, Curcumin, Lupeol and possibly others.

A common mistake made when deciding and choosing foods to eat for Thymic Carcinoma – 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 Thymic Carcinoma.

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

Skills Needed for Nutrition Personalization for Thymic Carcinoma?

Personalized nutrition for cancers like Thymic Carcinoma 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 Thymic Carcinoma 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 Thymic Carcinoma

All cancers like Thymic Carcinoma can be characterized by a unique set of biochemical pathways – the signature pathways of Thymic Carcinoma. Biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle Checkpoints, Cell Cycle, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling, RAS-RAF Signaling are part of the signature definition of Thymic Carcinoma. Each individual’s cancer genetics can be different and hence their specific cancer signature could be unique.

The treatments which are effective for Thymic Carcinoma 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 Thymic Carcinoma when taking cancer treatment Cyclophosphamide, 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.

CDKN2A, CYLD, KMT2D, TP53 and KMT2C are the top ranked reported genes for Thymic Carcinoma. CDKN2A is reported in 9.1 % of the representative patients across all clinical trials. And CYLD is reported in 9.1 %. The combined population patient data cover ages from 16 to 83. 50.6 % of the patient data are identified as men. The Thymic Carcinoma 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 Thymic Carcinoma

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 CAULIFLOWER or NAPA CABBAGE?

Vegetable Cauliflower contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Genistein, Delphinidin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle, Cell Cycle Checkpoints, MAPK Signaling and NFKB Signaling and others. Cauliflower is recommended for Thymic Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Cyclophosphamide. This is because Cauliflower modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Cyclophosphamide.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in vegetable Napa Cabbage are Curcumin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Genistein, Delphinidin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair and others. Napa Cabbage is not recommended for Thymic Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Cyclophosphamide because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

VEGETABLE CAULIFLOWER IS RECOMMENDED OVER NAPA CABBAGE FOR Thymic Carcinoma AND TREATMENT Cyclophosphamide.

Choose Fruit POMEGRANATE or LIME?

Fruit Pomegranate contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Ellagic Acid, Quercetin, Curcumin, Lupeol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair, Cell Cycle, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and MYC Signaling and others. Pomegranate is recommended for Thymic Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Cyclophosphamide. This is because Pomegranate modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Cyclophosphamide.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in fruit Lime are Curcumin, Lupeol, Caffeine, Lycopene, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair and Cell Cycle Checkpoints and others. Lime is not recommended for Thymic Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Cyclophosphamide because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

FRUIT POMEGRANATE IS RECOMMENDED OVER LIME FOR Thymic Carcinoma AND TREATMENT Cyclophosphamide.

Choose Nut BUTTERNUT or EUROPEAN CHESTNUT?

Butternut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Lupeol, Caffeine, Lycopene. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle, MAPK Signaling, Cell Cycle Checkpoints and MYC Signaling and others. Butternut is recommended for Thymic Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Cyclophosphamide. This is because Butternut modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Cyclophosphamide.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in European Chestnut are Apigenin, Ellagic Acid, Quercetin, Curcumin, Lupeol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like DNA Repair and NFKB Signaling and others. European Chestnut is not recommended for Thymic Carcinoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Cyclophosphamide because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

BUTTERNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER EUROPEAN CHESTNUT FOR Thymic Carcinoma AND TREATMENT Cyclophosphamide.

For Individuals with Genetic Risk of Cancer

The question asked by individuals who have genetic risk of Thymic Carcinoma 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 WILD CARROT or SWEDE?

Vegetable Wild Carrot contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Quercetin, Lupeol, Linalool. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle, P53 Signaling, MAPK Signaling and MYC Signaling and others. Wild Carrot is recommended for risk of Thymic Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is CDKN2A. This is because Wild Carrot increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in vegetable Swede are Apigenin, Curcumin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Swede is not recommended when risk of Thymic Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is CDKN2A because it increases the signature pathways of it.

VEGETABLE WILD CARROT IS RECOMMENDED OVER SWEDE FOR CDKN2A GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

Choose Fruit NANCE or PUMMELO?

Fruit Nance contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Myricetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle, P53 Signaling, MAPK Signaling and MYC Signaling and others. Nance is recommended for risk of Thymic Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is CDKN2A. 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, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and Cell Cycle Checkpoints and others. Pummelo is not recommended when risk of Thymic Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is CDKN2A because it increases the signature pathways of it.

FRUIT NANCE IS RECOMMENDED OVER PUMMELO FOR CDKN2A GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

Choose Nut COMMON HAZELNUT or FLAXSEED?

Common Hazelnut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Quercetin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Myricetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Cell Cycle, Stem Cell Signaling, P53 Signaling and MAPK Signaling and others. Common Hazelnut is recommended for risk of Thymic Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is CDKN2A. This is because Common Hazelnut increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in Flaxseed are Apigenin, Curcumin, Lupeol, Daidzein, Myricetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Stem Cell Signaling, Angiogenesis and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Flaxseed is not recommended when risk of Thymic Carcinoma when associated genetic risk is CDKN2A because it increases the signature pathways of it.

COMMON HAZELNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER FLAXSEED FOR CDKN2A GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

In Conclusion

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

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