Foods for Diffuse Astrocytoma!

Introduction

Foods for Diffuse Astrocytoma 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.

Diffuse astrocytoma, classified under the ICD-10 code for brain tumors, is a type of brain cancer characterized by its widespread growth pattern within the brain’s glial tissue. The pathology outlines of diffuse astrocytoma provide essential insights into its cellular structure, crucial for diagnosis and determining the grade of the tumor, which can range from grade 2 to grade 4. Radiology, particularly MRI, plays a key role in identifying and tracking the progression of diffuse astrocytomas. The survival rate varies depending on the tumor’s grade, with grade 2 diffuse astrocytomas generally having a better prognosis compared to the more aggressive grade 3 and grade 4 (glioblastoma) astrocytomas. One significant factor influencing prognosis is the IDH mutation status; IDH mutant diffuse astrocytomas tend to have a better outcome. Symptoms of diffuse astrocytoma include headaches, seizures, and neurological deficits, and the recurrence rate can be high, especially for higher-grade tumors. Treatment usually involves a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, with the approach being tailored to the individual’s tumor characteristics and overall health. The possibility of curing diffuse astrocytoma depends on various factors, including the tumor’s grade and location, making the management of this condition complex and requiring a personalized approach for each patient.

For Diffuse Astrocytoma 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 Diffuse Astrocytoma 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 Diffuse Astrocytoma?

For example does it matter if vegetable Garden Cress is consumed more compared to Chinese Broccoli? Does it make any difference if fruit Grapefruit is preferred over Pitanga? Also if similar choices are made for nuts/seeds like Chia over Pili Nut and for pulses like Adzuki Bean over Mung Bean. And if what I eat matters – then how does one identify foods which are recommended for Diffuse Astrocytoma and is it the same answer for everyone with the same diagnosis or genetic risk?

Yes! Foods you eat matters for Diffuse Astrocytoma!

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 Grapefruit contains active ingredients Curcumin, Daidzein, Lupeol, Lycopene, Formononetin. And Pitanga contains active ingredients Curcumin, Quercetin, Caffeine, Apigenin, Daidzein and possibly others.

A common mistake made when deciding and choosing foods to eat for Diffuse Astrocytoma – 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 Diffuse Astrocytoma.

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

Skills Needed for Nutrition Personalization for Diffuse Astrocytoma?

Personalized nutrition for cancers like Diffuse Astrocytoma 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 Diffuse Astrocytoma 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 Diffuse Astrocytoma

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

The treatments which are effective for Diffuse Astrocytoma 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 Diffuse Astrocytoma 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.

IDH1, TP53, ATRX, TERT and NF1 are the top ranked reported genes for Diffuse Astrocytoma. IDH1 is reported in 77.8 % of the representative patients across all clinical trials. And TP53 is reported in 77.8 %. The combined population patient data cover ages from 14 to 80. 61.5 % of the patient data are identified as men. The Diffuse Astrocytoma 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 Diffuse Astrocytoma

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 GARDEN CRESS or CHINESE BROCCOLI?

Vegetable Garden Cress contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Daidzein, Lupeol, Myricetin, Benzyl Isothiocyanate. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like TGFB Signaling, NFKB Signaling, Cell Cycle and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Garden Cress is recommended for Diffuse Astrocytoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Radiation. This is because Garden Cress modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Radiation.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in vegetable Chinese Broccoli are Curcumin, Apigenin, Daidzein, Lupeol, Myricetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like TGFB Signaling and DNA Repair and others. Chinese Broccoli is not recommended for Diffuse Astrocytoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Radiation because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

VEGETABLE GARDEN CRESS IS RECOMMENDED OVER CHINESE BROCCOLI FOR Diffuse Astrocytoma AND TREATMENT Radiation.

Choose Fruit PITANGA or GRAPEFRUIT?

Fruit Pitanga contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Quercetin, Caffeine, Apigenin, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like TGFB Signaling, NFKB Signaling, Cell Cycle and PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and others. Pitanga is recommended for Diffuse Astrocytoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Radiation. This is because Pitanga modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Radiation.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in fruit Grapefruit are Curcumin, Daidzein, Lupeol, Lycopene, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like NFKB Signaling and Notch Signaling and others. Grapefruit is not recommended for Diffuse Astrocytoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Radiation because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

FRUIT PITANGA IS RECOMMENDED OVER GRAPEFRUIT FOR Diffuse Astrocytoma AND TREATMENT Radiation.

Choose Nut CHIA or PILI NUT?

Chia contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Curcumin, Caffeine, Apigenin, Daidzein, Lupeol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like NFKB Signaling, Cell Cycle, DNA Repair and RAS-RAF Signaling and others. Chia is recommended for Diffuse Astrocytoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Radiation. This is because Chia modifies those biochemical pathways which have been scientifically reported to sensitize the effect of Radiation.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in Pili Nut are Curcumin, Caffeine, Apigenin, Daidzein, Lupeol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like TGFB Signaling and DNA Repair and others. Pili Nut is not recommended for Diffuse Astrocytoma when ongoing cancer treatment is Radiation because it modifies those biochemical pathways which make the cancer treatment resistant or less responsive.

CHIA IS RECOMMENDED OVER PILI NUT FOR Diffuse Astrocytoma AND TREATMENT Radiation.

For Individuals with Genetic Risk of Cancer

The question asked by individuals who have genetic risk of Diffuse Astrocytoma 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 ASPARAGUS?

Vegetable Giant Butterbur contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Formononetin, Lupeol, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Angiogenesis, JAK-STAT Signaling, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and P53 Signaling and others. Giant Butterbur is recommended for risk of Diffuse Astrocytoma when associated genetic risk is ATRX. 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 Asparagus are Apigenin, Curcumin, Quercetin, Formononetin, Lupeol. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Stem Cell Signaling and Oncogenic Cancer Epigenetics and others. Asparagus is not recommended when risk of Diffuse Astrocytoma when associated genetic risk is ATRX because it increases the signature pathways of it.

VEGETABLE GIANT BUTTERBUR IS RECOMMENDED OVER ASPARAGUS FOR ATRX GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

Choose Fruit NANCE or PUMMELO?

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

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

Choose Nut BUTTERNUT or EUROPEAN CHESTNUT?

Butternut contains many active ingredients or bioactives such as Apigenin, Curcumin, Formononetin, Lupeol, Daidzein. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Angiogenesis, JAK-STAT Signaling, PI3K-AKT-MTOR Signaling and Apoptosis and others. Butternut is recommended for risk of Diffuse Astrocytoma when associated genetic risk is ATRX. This is because Butternut increases those biochemical pathways which counteract the signature drivers of it.

Some of the active ingredients or bioactives in European Chestnut are Apigenin, Curcumin, Quercetin, Ellagic Acid, Formononetin. These active ingredients manipulate various biochemical pathways like Stem Cell Signaling and others. European Chestnut is not recommended when risk of Diffuse Astrocytoma when associated genetic risk is ATRX because it increases the signature pathways of it.

BUTTERNUT IS RECOMMENDED OVER EUROPEAN CHESTNUT FOR ATRX GENETIC RISK OF CANCER.

In Conclusion

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

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