New Study Links Diet High in Sugar and Fat to Lung Cancer Tumor Growth

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A recent study published in Nature Metabolism has uncovered a direct connection between dietary habits and the progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), a common form of lung cancer. The study found that a diet high in sugars and fats led to increased glycogen levels in lung tissues, which in turn accelerated tumor growth in mice. Researchers believe glycogen could serve as a valuable biomarker for assessing cancer progression and a potential therapeutic target.

Why it matters

This research reinforces the importance of public health initiatives promoting healthier dietary choices, similar to campaigns that have successfully reduced smoking rates. It also highlights the complex relationship between diabetes and cancer, as abnormal glucose metabolism can contribute to oncogenic mutation and cancer progression.

The details

Using spatial metabolomics, researchers at the University of Florida mapped molecules within lung tissues and discovered a significant accumulation of glycogen, a stored form of glucose, in patients diagnosed with LUAD. Experiments on mice fed a Western-style diet rich in fats and sugars showed accelerated tumor growth, particularly in those with elevated glycogen levels. Conversely, reducing glycogen levels slowed tumor progression, suggesting that glycogen acts as a key fuel source for cancer cells.

• The study was published in Nature Metabolism in February 2026.

What’s next

Researchers believe monitoring glycogen levels could help doctors predict how a patient's cancer will respond to treatment, and targeting glycogen metabolism could potentially become a novel therapeutic strategy.