Targeting lipid metabolism of cancer cells: A promising therapeutic strategy for cancer

• Cancer cells acquire lipid by uptaking from extracellular environment and lipolysis, not only de novo synthesis.
• Lipids provide cancer cells energy, necessary substrates for membrane synthesis and signalling molecules.
• Increasing lipid droplets in cancer cells play important roles in adaptive responses to harmful conditions.
• Lipid metabolic pathways provide potential therapeutic targets for cancer.

One of the most important metabolic hallmarks of cancer cells is deregulation of lipid metabolism. In addition, enhancing de novo fatty acid (FA) synthesis, increasing lipid uptake and lipolysis have also been considered as means of FA acquisition in cancer cells. FAs are involved in various aspects of tumourigenesis and tumour progression. Therefore, targeting lipid metabolism is a promising therapeutic strategy for human cancer. Recent studies have shown that reprogramming lipid metabolism plays important roles in providing energy, macromolecules for membrane synthesis, and lipid signals during cancer progression. Moreover, accumulation of lipid droplets in cancer cells acts as a pivotal adaptive response to harmful conditions. Here, we provide a brief review of the crucial roles of FA metabolism in cancer development, and place emphasis on FA origin, utilization and storage in cancer cells. Understanding the regulation of lipid metabolism in cancer cells has important implications for exploring a new therapeutic strategy for management and treatment of cancer.