Emerging targets in lipid metabolism for cancer therapy

Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2024 Jun;45(6):537-551. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2024.04.007. Epub 2024 May 17.

Abstract

Cancer cells perturb lipid metabolic pathways for a variety of pro-tumorigenic functions, and deregulated cellular metabolism is a hallmark of cancer cells. Although alterations in lipid metabolism in cancer cells have been appreciated for over 20 years, there are no FDA-approved cancer treatments that target lipid-related pathways. Recent advances pertaining to cancer cell fatty acid synthesis (FAS), desaturation, and uptake, microenvironmental and dietary lipids, and lipid metabolism of tumor-infiltrating immune cells have illuminated promising clinical applications for targeting lipid metabolism. This review highlights emerging pathways and targets for tumor lipid metabolism that may soon impact clinical treatment.

Keywords: cancer metabolism; fatty acids; lipid metabolism.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism* / drug effects
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Fatty Acids