That afternoon Coke or morning orange juice may do more than add calories. A new study suggests sugary beverages can directly boost cancer’s ability to spread.
Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and partner institutions found that the combination of glucose and fructose, typically found in soda, fruit juice, or sports drinks, activates a pathway that makes colorectal cancer cells more mobile. Published in Nature Metabolism, the findings show this process happens without changes in body weight or tumor size.
Led by Jihye Yun, an assistant professor of genetics, the study suggests that colorectal cancer cells are using the sugars as fuel to enhance their ability to migrate and invade.
How Sugary Drinks Fuel Cancer Spread
In mouse models, researchers tested sugar solutions similar to those found in high-fructose corn syrup or table sugar, which both contain glucose and fructose in roughly equal parts. Mice with colorectal cancer tumors that drank these mixtures developed more liver metastases than mice drinking plain water or glucose alone.
The critical player is an enzyme called sorbitol dehydrogenase (SORD). When glucose and fructose are consumed together, SORD triggers a chemical shift that raises the NAD⁺/NADH ratio in cells. This ratio is like a cellular “fuel gauge” that tracks how efficiently cells can make and use energy. By tilting the balance, the cancer cells gain a surplus of usable energy that powers glycolysis (sugar breakdown) and activates the pathway that boosts their ability to move and spread.
In simple terms, the cancer cells not only get extra fuel but also a stronger engine for spreading from the original tumor to other organs.
Why Both Sugars Together Spell Trouble
Most earlier studies looked at glucose or fructose in isolation. But in real diets, these sugars almost always arrive together in popular sweetened drinks. The new research shows that only the combination produces the metastasis-boosting effect.
The team tested 13 different colorectal cancer cell lines. Growth did not increase when glucose and fructose were combined, but migration and invasion did. That means the sugars did not make tumors grow bigger; they made them better at spreading.
Colorectal cancer rates have been increasing among younger adults since the 1980s. At the same time, sugary drink consumption has surged. In the U.S., more than half of adults and nearly two-thirds of young people consume sugar-sweetened beverages daily.
One large study of nearly 100,000 women found that drinking two or more sugary drinks per week doubled the risk of developing colorectal cancer before age 50. This aligns with the mechanistic findings in the new animal research.
The study also highlights a clinical gap: many people continue drinking sugary beverages after diagnosis. Some patients even receive recommendations to consume fruit juice or energy drinks during treatment to maintain calorie intake.
But these drinks contain the same glucose/fructose mix that was shown to drive metastasis in lab models. According to the authors, dietary changes may need to become part of cancer care discussions.
Possible Treatment Avenues
The research also points to new strategies for slowing metastasis. SORD levels were found to be higher in human colorectal tumors compared to healthy tissue. In some patient data, metastatic tumors showed even greater expression than primary ones.
Blocking the SORD pathway in mice stopped the spread-enhancing effects of sugary drinks. Statins, common cholesterol-lowering drugs, also reduced metastasis in animal experiments by disrupting the same downstream pathway.
While these results are preliminary and limited to lab and animal studies, they suggest SORD could be a promising target for future therapies. Most cancer deaths result from metastasis, not primary tumors. Strategies that prevent spread—even without shrinking the original tumor—could save lives.
What Comes Next
The researchers are now studying whether the glucose/fructose pathway plays a role in other cancer types. They are also exploring whether dietary interventions could complement standard treatments.
For now, the simplest takeaway is that cutting back on sugary beverages may lower not only the risk of developing colorectal cancer, but also its ability to spread once present.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Patients should consult their healthcare providers before making dietary or treatment changes.
Source: https://studyfinds.org/sugary-drinks-colorectal-cancer-spread/
