Lipid metabolism reprogramming and its potential targets in cancer

• Published in: Cancer communications (London, England) Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 1 - 14
• Main Authors: Cheng, Chunming, Geng, Feng, Cheng, Xiang, Guo, Deliang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central 21.05.2018; Wiley
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Cancer; Cholesterol; Endoplasmic Reticulum - metabolism; Fatty acids; Humans; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - metabolism; Lipid droplets; Lipid metabolism; Lipid Metabolism - drug effects; Lipogenesis - drug effects; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Models, Biological; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - metabolism; Review; SCAP; SREBPs; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Proteins - metabolism; Lipid droplets; SCAP; SREBPs; Lipid metabolism; Fatty acids; Cholesterol; Cancer
• ISSN: 2523-3548; 2523-3548
• DOI: 10.1186/s40880-018-0301-4

Reprogramming of lipid metabolism is a newly recognized hallmark of malignancy. Increased lipid uptake, storage and lipogenesis occur in a variety of cancers and contribute to rapid tumor growth. Lipids constitute the basic structure of membranes and also function as signaling molecules and energy sources. Sterol regulatory element‐binding proteins (SREBPs), a family of membrane‐bound transcription factors in the endoplasmic reticulum, play a central role in the regulation of lipid metabolism. Recent studies have revealed that SREBPs are highly up‐regulated in various cancers and promote tumor growth. SREBP cleavage‐activating protein is a key transporter in the trafficking and activation of SREBPs as well as a critical glucose sensor, thus linking glucose metabolism and de novo lipid synthesis. Targeting altered lipid metabolic pathways has become a promising anti‐cancer strategy. This review summarizes recent progress in our understanding of lipid metabolism regulation in malignancy, and highlights potential molecular targets and their inhibitors for cancer treatment.