A common sugar may help cancer cells break free and spread

Scientists from The Wistar Institute discovered that ovarian cancer cells surviving chemotherapy release fructose, which signals neighboring tumor cells to loosen and spread. Fructose reduces cholesterol levels in neighboring cells, weakening bonds between them and allowing easier separation and metastasis. High amounts of dietary fructose, comparable to levels in sugary drinks, can promote cancer spread even without chemotherapy. High fructose corn syrup represents 8-20 percent of daily calorie intake in some Americans. The research also indicates that statins, used by 39 million people in the USA, can weaken connections between cancer cells. The findings suggest that diet and cholesterol-lowering drugs could influence cancer progression, although effects in patients have not yet been confirmed.