Tumor lipid metabolism

Tumor lipid metabolism refers to the adaptive reprogramming of lipid biosynthetic and degradative pathways that occurs in cancer cells to support their malignant phenotype [1, 10]. Unlike most healthy tissues that primarily utilize dietary lipids, many tumors exhibit a dramatic increase in de novo lipogenesis, driven by the upregulation of enzymes such as Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN) and Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (ACC) [5, 12]. These metabolic alterations provide the structural building blocks for cell membranes, fuel for energy production via fatty acid oxidation, and lipid-derived signaling molecules like prostaglandins and sphingolipids that promote survival and metastasis [5, 14]. This metabolic shift also impacts the tumor microenvironment, influencing immune cell function and contributing to drug resistance [1, 3, 16]. Targeting specific nodes in this network, such as FASN or Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase (SCD1), has shown therapeutic potential, with inhibitors like Denifanstat entering clinical trials [4, 9]. However, the high degree of metabolic plasticity, where cancer cells can switch between endogenous synthesis and extracellular uptake, remains a significant challenge for clinical efficacy [5, 9].

Other names

Cancer lipid metabolismLipid metabolic reprogrammingTumor lipogenesisLipid oncometabolismAltered lipid metabolism in cancer

Inhibition of key enzymes in de novo fatty acid synthesis, blockade of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, or disruption of lipid uptake and storage mechanisms.