Cancer metabolism: fatty acid oxidation in the limelight

Abstract

Warburg suggested that the alterations in metabolism that he observed in cancer cells were due to the malfunction of mitochondria. In the past decade, we have revisited this idea and reached a better understanding of the ‘metabolic switch’ in cancer cells, including the intimate and causal relationship between cancer genes and metabolic alterations, and their potential to be targeted for cancer treatment. However, the vast majority of the research into cancer metabolism has been limited to a handful of metabolic pathways, while other pathways have remained in the dark. This Progress article brings to light the important contribution of fatty acid oxidation to cancer cell function.

Metabolic alterations in urine extracellular vesicles are associated to prostate cancer pathogenesis and progression

“…These changes include an upregulation metabolites involved in de novo lipid biosynthesis [48] and fatty acid β-oxidation [49]. As consequence, it has been shown the accumulation in the prostatic tissue of acyl carnitines, which are intermediates of fatty acid oxidation [50].…”

Unravelling the role of fatty acid metabolism in cancer through the FOXO3-FOXM1 axis

“…2). These TAGs, when necessary, generate energy through b-oxidation, which is a cyclical series of reactions that result in the shortening of FAs by two carbons per cycle, and generate also in each round NADH, FADH 2 and acetyl CoA (Carracedo et al, 2013). Notably, despite having adequate nutritional supply in cancer cells, almost all FAs are derived from de novo synthesis (Baron et al, 2004).…”

Androgen control of lipid metabolism in prostate cancer: novel insights and future applications

“…Fatty acids that are synthesized or acquired by prostate cancer cells undergo catabolism via beta-oxidation for energy production (Carracedo et al 2013), are stored in lipid droplets to protect them from harmful peroxidation (Bailey et al 2015, Liu et al 2015, or are ultimately converted to more complex phospholipids that are key components of cellular membranes (Fig. 1).…”