Emerging Lipid Targets in Glioblastoma

Abstract

GBM accounts for most of the fatal brain cancer cases, making it one of the deadliest tumor types. GBM is characterized by severe progression and poor prognosis with a short survival upon conventional chemo- and radiotherapy. In order to improve therapeutic efficiency, considerable efforts have been made to target various features of GBM. One of the targetable features of GBM is the rewired lipid metabolism that contributes to the tumor’s aggressive growth and penetration into the surrounding brain tissue. Lipid reprogramming allows GBM to acquire survival, proliferation, and invasion benefits as well as supportive modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Several attempts have been made to find novel therapeutic approaches by exploiting the lipid metabolic reprogramming in GBM. In recent studies, various components of de novo lipogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, lipid uptake, and prostaglandin synthesis have been considered promising targets in GBM. Emerging data also suggest a significant role hence therapeutic potential of the endocannabinoid metabolic pathway in GBM. Here we review the lipid-related GBM characteristics in detail and highlight specific targets with their potential therapeutic use in novel antitumor approaches.

Unraveling the intricate relationship between lipid metabolism and oncogenic signaling pathways

“…Comprehending the interaction between lipids, their metabolic processes, and associated signaling is paramount. Lipids consist of a wide variety of biomolecules with different compositions and functions, such as sterol and prenol lipids, fatty acyls, and glycerophospholipids, and they also play a significant role in tumors ( Darwish et al, 2024 ). Lipids create the physical obstacles surrounding cellular organelles and defend the cell from the extracellular environment.…”