Glucose and fructose collectively improve the migration, invasion and metastatic potential of CRC cells in vitro and in vivo. Credit score: Nature Metabolism (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s42255-025-01368-w
A brand new examine from researchers at The College of Texas MD Anderson Most cancers Middle reveals that the glucose-fructose combine present in sugary drinks instantly fuels metastasis in preclinical fashions of superior colorectal most cancers. The examine was printed right this moment in Nature Metabolism.
A analysis staff led by Jihye Yun, Ph.D., assistant professor of Genetics, studied how sugary drinks could have an effect on late-stage colorectal most cancers. Utilizing laboratory most cancers fashions, they in contrast the results of the glucose-fructose combine present in most sugary drinks with these of glucose or fructose alone. Solely the sugar combine made most cancers cells extra cell, resulting in quicker unfold to the liver—the commonest website of colorectal most cancers metastasis.
The sugar combine activated an enzyme referred to as sorbitol dehydrogenase (SORD), which boosts glucose metabolism and triggers the ldl cholesterol pathway, in the end driving metastasis. This is identical pathway focused by statins, frequent coronary heart medicine that inhibit ldl cholesterol manufacturing. Blocking SORD slowed metastasis, even with the sugar combine current. These findings counsel that concentrating on SORD might additionally provide a chance to dam metastasis.
“Our findings highlight that daily diet matters not only for cancer risk but also for how the disease progresses once it has developed,” Yun stated. “While these findings need further investigation, they suggest that reducing sugary drinks, targeting SORD or repurposing statins may benefit patients with colorectal cancer.”
The Yun Laboratory is excited by finding out how food regimen impacts the gut and most cancers growth, and so they have made necessary discoveries on the impacts of sugary drinks on colorectal most cancers.
Sugar has lengthy been not directly linked to a rise in most cancers threat by means of weight problems. Nonetheless, a earlier examine by Yun’s lab challenged that view, displaying that even average consumption of sugary drinks instantly fueled tumor development in early-stage colorectal most cancers, unbiased of weight problems. The present examine was carried out to find out how sugary drinks could influence later-stage illness.
Whereas this examine wants additional medical investigation, the outcomes counsel that decreasing sugary drinks and concentrating on the SORD enzyme could provide alternatives to cut back colorectal most cancers metastasis. Further research are warranted to verify these outcomes outdoors of preclinical fashions.
Additional, Yun defined it could be worthwhile to contemplate revisions to present dietary suggestions to cut back sugary drink consumption on this affected person inhabitants. To satisfy dietary wants, many sufferers with most cancers are inspired to have dietary complement drinks and concentrated juices that comprise excessive glucose and fructose content material.
Extra data:
Fructose and glucose from sugary drinks improve colorectal most cancers metastasis through SORD, Nature Metabolism (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s42255-025-01368-w. www.nature.com/articles/s42255-025-01368-w
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College of Texas M. D. Anderson Most cancers Middle
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Sugary drinks could improve threat of metastasis in superior colorectal most cancers (2025, September 19)
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