Reprogramming of Lipid Metabolism in Cancer: New Insight into Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Strategies

Abstract

Lipids have received less attention than nucleic acids and proteins, which play a major role in building up the cell. They are a complex group of biomolecules varying in structure and function whose complexity can only be revealed by refining the present analytical tools. Lipogenesis is critical for tumor growth as it has been observed that FA (Fatty Acid) synthesis increases in many cancers. In this review, we have detailed the causes and concerns for considering lipids as a trademark for cancer, including other events such as mutations, epigenetic changes, chromosomal rearrangements, and hormonal stimulations. The process of biomarker development can be heightened from the critical changes observed in lipid profiling that occur in the reprogramming of lipid metabolism. The cancer alterations that occur during lipid metabolism and the expression of various genes during this process have been discussed in detail. The routes through which cancer cells source lipids for their nourishment and energy need and how FA synthesis contributes to this are discussed. The various pathways involved in the metabolism of lipid, which has the potential to be therapeutic targets, are highlighted. Also, the various driving factors critical for lipid metabolism alterations and the major role played by lipids in cancer and ways of targeting it are critically analyzed.

Keywords: ROS; Tumor microenvironment; cancer; cleavage-activating protein; fatty acid binding proteins; low-density lipoprotein.