Fatty Acid Metabolism and Cancer Therapeutics

Cancer cells frequently reprogramme fatty acid metabolism to support rapid proliferation, membrane biogenesis and signal transduction. Enhanced de novo synthesis of fatty acids supplies phospholipids for expanding cellular membranes, while elevated uptake of extracellular lipids complements endogenous production. Key enzymes such as acetyl-CoA carboxylases and fatty acid synthase are upregulated in many tumours, creating metabolic dependencies that can be exploited therapeutically. In parallel, fatty acids and their derivatives modulate oncogenic signalling and the tumour immune microenvironment, influencing both cancer progression and response to therapy. Small-molecule inhibitors targeting enzyme catalytic sites, as well as antibodies and natural products that block lipid uptake or transport, have demonstrated efficacy in preclinical models. Combining lipid-targeted agents with existing chemotherapeutics, immunotherapies or radiation can overcome resistance mechanisms driven by metabolic plasticity. Recent advances in imaging and metabolomics have refined our understanding of lipid flux in vivo, enabling patient stratification and the development of biomarkers predictive of treatment response. Globally, fatty acid metabolism emerges as a unifying axis in cancer biology, with practical implications for novel drug design and precision medicine.

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Fatty Acid Metabolism and Cancer Therapeutics publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in fatty acid metabolism and cancer therapeutics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1): Rate-limiting enzyme that converts acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA in de novo fatty acid synthesis.

De novo fatty acid synthesis: Cellular process by which acetyl-CoA units are assembled into long-chain fatty acids.

Lipogenesis: Biosynthetic pathway leading to the formation of triglycerides and phospholipids from fatty acids.

β-oxidation: Mitochondrial degradation of fatty acids into acetyl-CoA for energy production.

Fatty acid uptake: Transport of extracellular fatty acids into cells via specialised protein carriers.

Tumour microenvironment: The complex milieu of cancer cells, stromal elements and immune cells influencing tumour behaviour.

References

1. Targeting fatty acid uptake and metabolism in cancer cells: A promising strategy for cancer treatment. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (2023).
2. Targeting dysregulated lipid metabolism in the tumor microenvironment. Archives of Pharmacal Research (2023).
3. Targeting acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 for cancer therapy. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2023).