High blood sugar may help cancer cells evade the immune system

A new study published in Science Advances suggests that high blood sugar levels may help cancer cells evade the immune system. Research led by the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Research Institute indicates that elevated glucose can thicken a protective layer on the surface of cancer cells known as the ‘glycocalyx’.

When this layer thickens, it becomes more difficult for immune cells to recognize and destroy the cancer cells. Laboratory experiments simulating human physiological conditions showed that high glucose levels directly contribute to this thickening. Dr. Kevin Tharp, the study's lead author, noted that these findings provide a potential mechanism explaining the established link between high blood sugar and increased cancer risks or poorer treatment outcomes.