A new study in mice has suggested that Western diet’s reliance on sugar increases the risk for breast cancer tumors and metastasis to the lungs. Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have found that fructose encouraged the growth of breast tumor, and helped it in spreading.

Fructose is present in table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, and is used in high percentage in lot of food items.

As per the Dana-Farber Cancer Center, earlier research has linked dietary sugar to many kinds of cancer, and other studies have displayed an association between sugar and inflammation that can result into cancer development.

In a press release, Dr. Lorenzo Cohen, a professor of palliative, rehabilitation, and integrative medicine at MD Anderson, said that the present study has investigated the effect of dietary sugar on mammary gland tumor development in a number of mouse models, along with mechanisms that could have involvement in it.

Dr. Cohen added, “We determined that it was specifically fructose, in table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, ubiquitous within our food system, which was responsible for facilitating lung metastasis and 12-HETE production in breast tumors”.

The study was published in the journal Cancer Research. During the study, researchers carried out 4 separate studies randomizing mice to diet groups given one of 4 diets with differing sucrose and fructose levels.

Cohen said the study data has suggested that either form of sugar induced 12-LOX and 12-HETE production in breast tumor cells, resulting into tumors growth. But, he has mentioned that further research is required to determine whether sugar has a direct or indirect effect on the growth of tumor.