- A new study has revealed that the simple sugar fructose could be a key molecule that signals surviving tumour cells after chemotherapy to spread cancer further.
- Researchers found that cells not killed by chemotherapy continue to release molecules that send signals to nearby cells, according to scientists.
- “Our study is among the first to show that a nutrient – fructose – can act as one of those signals,” said Aidan Cole, an author of the study that assessed data from ovarian cancer patients, and was published in the journal Nature Ageing .
- Fructose appeared to suppress cholesterol in neighbouring cells, which is crucial for them to adhere, potentially allowing surviving cancer cells to escape and spread more easily.
- Scientists warn that high fructose consumption, such as from sugary drinks, can also signal cancer cells to spread, even without chemotherapy treatment.
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