06/08/2026
New research suggests fructose may help ovarian cancer spread.
Scientists at The Wistar Institute have discovered that fructose, a common sugar in many diets, may do more than fuel the body—it could also help aggressive ovarian cancer spread.
According to a study published in Nature Aging, ovarian cancer cells that survive chemotherapy release fructose as a chemical signal to nearby tumor cells. This signal reduces cholesterol production in those cells. Since cholesterol helps keep tumor cells bound together, lower cholesterol may weaken those connections, making it easier for cancer cells to break away and spread throughout the abdominal cavity.
Researchers also found that high levels of dietary fructose promoted cancer spread in preclinical models, even without chemotherapy. The study further suggests that cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins may have similar effects on tumor cell adhesion, though scientists stress that patients should not stop taking prescribed medications based on these findings alone.
The research raises important questions about the role of nutrition and cholesterol-lowering medications in cancer progression, especially in countries where high-fructose corn syrup is widely consumed. More studies are needed to determine whether these findings apply directly to people and how they might influence future cancer treatments.
Source: Cole, A. & Aird, K. (2026). A common sugar may help cancer cells break free and spread. Nature Aging.