Cellular fatty acid metabolism and cancer

Abstract

Cancer cells often have characteristic changes in metabolism. Cellular proliferation, a common feature of all cancers, requires fatty acids for synthesis of membranes and signaling molecules. Here, we provide a view of cancer cell metabolism from a lipid perspective, and we summarize evidence that limiting fatty acid availability can control cancer cell proliferation.

Figure 1. Overview of cellular fatty acid metabolism

See text for description of depicted pathways. Enzymes are in bold. Enzymes with boxes around them are membrane localized.

Figure 2. Model showing how limiting FAs in the cell might limit cancer cell proliferation

This may be done by 1) blocking the synthesis of fatty, 2) increasing the rate of FA degradation, 3) increasing FA storage in neutral TG, and/or 4) decreasing FA release from storage.