Editorial
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Biol Chem. Aug 26, 2012; 3(8): 167-174
Published online Aug 26, 2012. doi: 10.4331/wjbc.v3.i8.167
Dysregulated lipid metabolism in cancer
Feng Zhang, Guangwei Du
Feng Zhang, Guangwei Du, Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, United States
Author contributions: All authors made the equal contributions.
Supported by A concept award from the Department of Defense (DOD) Breast Cancer Research Program, No. W81XWH-10-1-0624; a research grant from National Institutes of Health, No. GM071475
Correspondence to: Guangwei Du, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, United States. guangwei.du@uth.tmc.edu
Telephone: +1-713-5007055 Fax: +1-713-5007444
Received: June 12, 2012
Revised: August 9, 2012
Accepted: August 16, 2012
Published online: August 26, 2012
Abstract

Alteration of lipid metabolism has been increasingly recognized as a hallmark of cancer cells. The changes of expression and activity of lipid metabolizing enzymes are directly regulated by the activity of oncogenic signals. The dependence of tumor cells on the dysregulated lipid metabolism suggests that proteins involved in this process are excellent chemotherapeutic targets for cancer treatment. There are currently several drugs under development or in clinical trials that are based on specifically targeting the altered lipid metabolic pathways in cancer cells. Further understanding of dysregulated lipid metabolism and its associated signaling pathways will help us to better design efficient cancer therapeutic strategy.

Keywords: Lipid metabolism; Lipogenesis; Fatty acid oxidation; Cancer