Fructose Identified as Driver of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis

Scientists at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia have published a study in Nature Aging showing that fructose, a common dietary sugar, acts as a signaling molecule released by ovarian cancer cells that survive chemotherapy. The researchers, including postdoctoral fellow Aidan Cole and senior scientist Katherine Aird, found that these surviving cells produce fructose, which promotes the spread of neighboring tumor cells in preclinical models. The study suggests that high levels of fructose—whether generated by the cancer cells themselves or consumed through sugary drinks—could accelerate metastasis, the primary cause of death in ovarian cancer patients.

The discovery highlights a potential link between diet and cancer progression, raising the possibility that reducing fructose intake may help limit disease spread after chemotherapy.