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Extraction of Aqueous Metabolites from Cultured Adherent Cells for Metabolomic Analysis by Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: June 9, 2019
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Drink Responsibly: Cancer Cells Also Like Sugary Drinks.
1Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Canada.
Cancer Research
|December 2, 2025
Summary
Sugar-sweetened beverages promote colorectal cancer (CRC) spread by altering cell metabolism. The enzyme SORD regenerates NAD+, boosting CRC cell migration and metastasis, a process potentially inhibited by statins.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Metabolic pathways
- Cancer metastasis
Background:
- Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are linked to increased colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence.
- The impact of SSBs on CRC progression and metastasis remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how SSB consumption affects CRC metastasis.
- To elucidate the underlying metabolic mechanisms driving SSB-induced CRC spread.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of CRC cell lines and mouse models to glucose and fructose.
- Metabolomic analyses to identify key enzymes and pathways.
- Gene deletion of SORD and pharmacologic inhibition of the mevalonate pathway.
Main Results:
- SSBs enhanced CRC cell migration and liver metastasis in mouse models.
- The enzyme SORD converts fructose to sorbitol, regenerating NAD+ and increasing the NAD+/NADH ratio.
- SORD deletion reduced CRC cell migration and metastasis; restoring NAD+/NADH rescued migration.
- SSBs promote glycolysis, the TCA cycle, and the mevalonate pathway via SORD-dependent NAD+ regeneration.
- Statins inhibited SSB-induced migration and metastasis.
Conclusions:
- SSBs enhance CRC metastasis through SORD-dependent metabolic reprogramming.
- SORD links SSB consumption to increased tumor cell migration and metastatic potential by regenerating NAD+ and influencing key metabolic pathways.
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