Updated

Researchers report that fructose, a sugar common in sweetened foods and drinks, may help aggressive ovarian cancer cells break free and spread, according to findings published November 12, 2026. The team found that cancer cells surviving chemotherapy release fructose that weakens the bonds holding neighboring tumor cells together, making spread easier. In preclinical experiments, high dietary fructose levels and cholesterol-lowering statins also produced concerning effects. The work is early-stage and has not yet been tested in patients.