Cancer: How cancer cells metabolise fructose to grow

Schematic model summarizing the differences in glucose (A) and fructose (B) metabolism in pancreatic cancer cells showing the preferential use of
fructose in the TK-dependent nonoxidative pentose phosphate shunt.

These findings show that cancer cells can readily metabolize fructose to increase proliferation. They have major significance for cancer patients given dietary refined fructose consumption, and indicate that efforts to reduce refined fructose intake or inhibit fructose-mediated actions may disrupt cancer growth. Cancer Res; 70(15); 6368–76. ©2010 AACR.