Fructose may trigger the spread of aggressive ovarian cancer by acting as a chemical signal that weakens the bonds between cancer cells. According to a study from The Wistar Institute published in Nature Aging, chemotherapy-surviving cells release fructose to encourage neighboring tumor cells to metastasize, a process responsible for approximately 90% of deaths from the disease.
How Fructose Drives Ovarian Cancer Metastasis
Researchers at The Wistar Institute discovered that cancer cells remaining after platinum-based chemotherapy are not always dividing, but they remain biologically active. These cells release molecules that signal nearby cells to spread throughout the abdominal cavity.
Aidan Cole, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow and the study’s first author, stated that fructose acts as one of these signals. The team’s experiments showed that substances released by surviving cells—independent of the cells themselves—significantly increased the ability of cancer cells to spread in a preclinical model.
Did you know? High fructose corn syrup can account for 8% to 20% of daily calorie intake for some people in the United States, potentially influencing how cancer progresses.
The Role of Cholesterol in Cellular Adhesion
The study utilized a CRISPR screen and other analytical methods to determine how fructose facilitates the escape of cancer cells. The researchers found that fructose lowers cholesterol production within neighboring cancer cells.
Cholesterol serves as a biological glue that keeps cells attached to one another. When fructose reduces these cholesterol levels, the cellular bonds weaken. This allows cancer cells to separate more easily and migrate to other areas of the body.
Potential Interactions With Statin Medications
The finding that reduced cholesterol encourages cancer spread introduces a potential clinical complication regarding statins. These drugs, used by 39 million people in the U.S., function by lowering cholesterol production.
In the Wistar Institute study, statins alone weakened the connections between cancer cells, making it easier for them to escape. Katherine Aird, Ph.D., professor and senior author of the study, noted that this raises questions about combining cholesterol-lowering drugs with chemotherapy, particularly since ovarian cancer frequently affects postmenopausal women who often take statins.
Pro Tip: Patients should not stop taking statins or any prescribed medication based on these findings. The researchers emphasize that these effects have not yet been tested in human patients.
Expanding Research to Other Torso Cancers
While the current study focused on ovarian cancer, the researchers believe this mechanism may apply to other malignancies that spread within the torso. Dr. Aird identified pancreatic, colon, and liver cancers as potential candidates for similar behavior.
The team is currently planning follow-up studies to verify if the fructose-related pathway is a universal driver of metastasis across these different cancer types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does eating sugar cause ovarian cancer?
The study suggests that high amounts of dietary fructose, such as those found in sugary drinks, can encourage the spread of existing cancer cells, even without prior chemotherapy.
Should I stop taking statins if I have cancer?
No. Dr. Katherine Aird and her team explicitly state that patients should not stop taking prescribed medications. The interaction between statins and chemotherapy is a subject for further research.
What is the significance of the Wistar Institute’s discovery?
It identifies a previously unknown way that nutrient-based signals, specifically fructose, can drive metastasis by reducing cellular cholesterol.
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