Do cancer cells like/need more sugar than regular cells?

There were some articles recently about pancreatic cancer cells and sugar/glucose levels.
Study: High sugar levels could help pancreatic cancer treatments Story by Maia Belay • 1w

Study: High sugar levels could help pancreatic cancer treatments© Provided by WANE Ft. Wayne
CLEVELAND (WJW) – There’s an urgent need for new ways to treat pancreatic cancer and Ohio researchers are on the cusp of a potential breakthrough.
Early data shows a hyperglycemic state, elevated blood sugar, can make pancreatic cancer more responsive to chemotherapy, according to researchers at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
“Those with higher glucose levels, diabetics, uncontrolled sugar, actually live longer while getting chemotherapy,” said Dr. Jordan Winter, Chief of Surgical Oncology at University Hospitals. “We’re really excited about this research because it’s an opportunity to improve survival of a very deadly disease without needing to develop a new therapeutic altogether.”
Study analysis showed patients in the high glucose group had a nearly 40% lower risk of dying, despite a higher level of a cancer antigen compared to people with normal glucose levels.
Winter said pancreatic cancer is difficult to treat. It’s also one of the most deadly. Less than 60,000 people are diagnosed every year, and about 95% of people with the illness die.
“Pancreatic cancer is the 12th most common cancer in the United States, but it’s now the second leading cause of cancer-related death — or third leading cause, soon to surpass colon cancer, in the next couple years,” said Winter.
Sugar, researchers said, is a relatively low-cost intervention that could bypass the yearslong process for developing a new treatment.
“The cost of developing new drugs is over a billion dollars, sometimes multiple billions of dollars and can take 10 to 20 years,” said Winter. “So if you have an intervention that could impact survival without developing a new drug, that is potentially a big breakthrough in our field.”
Clinical trials are expected to begin in 2024, Winter said.
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Found this interesting since the pancreas produces insulin and since most references before spoke of cancer feeding off sugar!

My question is always: Peer Reviews? It's so confusing, but always interesting to read about new findings.

And that's why I ask cause I think I read somewhere on this Mayo Clinic site, that ALL cells need sugar, not just cancer cells. So, cancer cells feeding off sugar is a myth. I hope so, cause I like my sweets! (It's been 4+ years since my Whipple procedure, and 3.5 years since completing 6 months of chemo)

Hi @pancreaticcsurvivor, I think you might be referring to this related discussion:
- Should sugar be eliminated from diet in a cancer patient? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/should-sugar-be-eliminated-from-diet-in-a-cancer-patient/

Also, so this blog post by Mayo Clinic:
- Sugar's Role in Cancer https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/cancer-education-center/newsfeed-post/sugars-role-in-cancer-1/
According to this article by Mayo Clinic nurse educators "Sugar seems to be a major source of anxiety and fear for people with cancer. There is a myth circulating that sugar feeds cancer and that avoiding sugar will prevent the growth of cancer. To set things straight…sugar does not cause cancer on its own. Giving sugar to cancer cells does not make them grow faster and depriving cancer cells of sugar does not make them grow more slowly. ..."

More specifically to your question about sugar and PET scan.

There are many myths that circulate about sugar and cancer. It's important to get the facts. This article by Mayo Clinic experts helps debunk common myths, including the facts about PET scans and the use of radioactive tracer — typically a form of glucose.

- Cancer causes: Popular myths about the causes of cancer https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-causes/art-20044714

EXCERPT

"Myth: People who have cancer shouldn't eat sugar, since it can cause cancer to grow faster.
Fact: More research is needed to understand the relationship between sugar in the diet and cancer. All kinds of cells, including cancer cells, depend on blood sugar (glucose) for energy. But giving more sugar to cancer cells doesn't make them grow faster. Likewise, depriving cancer cells of sugar doesn't make them grow more slowly.

This misconception may be based in part on a misunderstanding of positron emission tomography (PET) scans, which use a small amount of radioactive tracer — typically a form of glucose. All tissues in your body absorb some of this tracer, but tissues that are using more energy — including cancer cells — absorb greater amounts. For this reason, some people have concluded that cancer cells grow faster on sugar. But this isn't true.

There is some evidence that consuming large amounts of sugar is associated with an increased risk of certain cancers, including esophageal cancer. Eating too much sugar can also lead to weight gain and increase the risk of obesity and diabetes, which may increase the risk of cancer."

WOW....phew ! Thank you soooo much ! I won't freak out about eating some fruit preserves that contain sugar and the odd sweet. And, I've got some reading to do 😉

At what stage did they find the cancer?

Interesting article. I wonder if there are any other articles out there relative to that research. I’m a hard diabetic after my distal surgery so that would be great news if other research confirms it. Cancer cells which are mutant and rapidly multiply do require sugar (energy) for growth so this is interesting news for a sugar liver like me!

Sugar lover - dislike autocorrect at times!

Stage 2....small. I saw Alex Trebek, game-show host of Jeopardy, announced he had pancreatic cancer. When interviewed, he stated he wished he had not ignored his stomach pain. My feeling was similar to a mere hunger pang. Shortly after eating, I'd feel hungry again. Being someone who has watched my weight all my life, I thought this to be odd and mentioned it to my Dr the very next day after seeing this interview...and referred to Alex Trebek. When my Dr. replied that I was too young, fit, non-smoker and not overweight, I stated that I have absolutely no stomach or digestive issues. I have no idea what heartburn, indigestion, etc feels like, so this hunger pang seems odd. She said we could put my mind at ease and have an ultrasound. A small tumor on my pancreas was found. Due to the difficult area of the tumor, a biopsy was not possible and we proceeded to the Whipple procedure. From the time of the discovery of my tumor, to the date of my Whipple surgery (approx 2.5 months), I never experienced that hunger pang ever again. Had I not looked into it, I wouldn't be here.

I don't remember how I found that article on the internet. Being that it is from Cleveland hospitals & universities, & it was going into clinical trials was what really got my attention. I had been told by several oncology nurses to avoid sugars, especially candies. Well, with the original prognosis of 11 months I thought "why?" Might as well enjoy myself with an occasional treat 😉
Everything in moderation. 🙂