Fructose may accelerate the spread of ovarian cancer

On August 4, 2026, scientists at the Wistar Institute published findings linking fructose – a sugar present in many sweet drinks – to an increased ability of ovarian cancer cells that remain after chemotherapy to spread.

Fructose as a chemical signal

The authors found that cells that survive chemotherapy, although no longer dividing, remain biologically active and release molecules that communicate with neighboring cells. "Some cancer cells that survive chemotherapy aren't dividing anymore, but they're still biologically active," explained Aidan Cole, Ph.D., the study's first author.

Surviving cells release fructose

By separating the cells that survived treatment from the compounds they secrete, the team observed that exposing other cancer cells to these compounds significantly increased their ability to spread. The analysis identified fructose as the component responsible for this effect.

Fructose reduces cholesterol production

Using large-scale techniques, including a CRISPR screen, the researchers observed that fructose lowers the internal production of cholesterol in neighboring cells. Cholesterol acts like a kind of “glue” that keeps tumor cells together; its reduction weakens these bonds, facilitating the migration of cancer cells.

Statins may influence the process

The study also showed that statins – drugs that block cholesterol production and are used by about 39 million people in the United States – weaken the connections between tumor cells, making them more likely to escape. "We haven't tested this effect in patients yet, but it raises questions about combining cholesterol-lowering drugs with chemotherapy, especially since ovarian cancer is most common in postmenopausal women who are often already on statins," commented Katherine Aird, Ph.D., senior co-author.

Dietary impact

The authors noted that high fructose intakes, comparable to those found in sugary beverages, can stimulate cancer spread even in the absence of chemotherapy. In the United States, high-fructose corn syrup can account for roughly ~8 % to ~20 % of daily caloric intake, suggesting that dietary habits influence tumor progression.

Next steps

Although there are no clinical trials yet to determine whether reducing fructose consumption improves prognosis, the findings point to a new layer of interaction between nutrition and cancer. The researchers plan to investigate whether the same fructose-cholesterol pathway is present in other tumors that spread within the thoracic cavity, such as those of the pancreas, colon, and liver.

With information from ScienceDaily.