Fatty acid metabolism and cancer development

Although the type and etiology of cancers are different, pathways in glucose metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and glutamine metabolism have been reprogrammed in cancer cells to adapt to their rapid growth and proliferation. Recent research has also shown that multiple lipid metabolic pathways are altered in cancer cells. Here, we provide a brief review for the role of fatty acid metabolism in cancer development with a special focus on fatty acid uptake and de novo synthesis, triglycerides synthesis, storage and degradation. Reprogramming in fatty acid metabolism plays important roles in providing energy, macromolecules for membrane synthesis and lipid signals during cancer development. Understanding the mechanism of deregulated lipid metabolic pathways in cancer cells would reveal novel therapeutic approaches to combat cancer.