A New Target for the Treatment of Cancer: Lipid Droplets

Abstract

Cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of cells and their ability to spread to distant tissues. Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer, and dysregulation of lipid metabolism represents one of the most prominent metabolic alterations in tumor cells. In this context, lipid droplets (LDs) play a key role by supporting energy production and redox homeostasis, regulating autophagy, directing membrane synthesis, and modulating membrane composition. Through these functions, LDs help tumor cells minimize metabolic stress and facilitate tumor progression. LDs are dynamic organelles present in eukaryotic cells, consisting of a hydrophobic core of neutral lipids surrounded by a phospholipid monolayer. By regulating lipid storage and mobilization, LDs directly influence essential cellular processes required for survival, growth, and proliferation, including energy metabolism, membrane and organelle biogenesis, cell signaling, and gene transcription. This review addresses the composition and synthesis of LDs and examines their critical roles in cancer development, focusing particularly on selected cancer types.

Keywords

• Cancer
• lipid droplet
• lipid energy metabolism

Kanser Tedavisinde Yeni Bir Hedef: Lipit Damlacıkları

Abstract

Kanser, hücrelerin kontrolsüz çoğalması ve uzak dokulara yayılma yeteneği ile karakterize edilir. Metabolik yeniden programlama, kanserin ayırt edici özelliklerinden biridir ve lipit metabolizmasının düzensizliği, tümör hücrelerindeki en belirgin metabolik değişikliklerden birini temsil etmektedir. Bu bağlamda, lipit damlacıkları (LD'ler), enerji üretimini ve redoks homeostazını destekleyerek, otofajiyi düzenleyerek, membran sentezini yönlendirerek ve membran bileşimini modüle ederek önemli bir rol oynar. Bu işlevler aracılığıyla LD'ler, tümör hücrelerinin metabolik stresi en aza indirmesine ve tümör ilerlemesini kolaylaştırmasına yardımcı olur. LD'ler, ökaryotik hücrelerde bulunan, nötr lipitlerden oluşan hidrofobik bir çekirdek ve etrafını saran bir fosfolipid tek tabakasından oluşan dinamik organellerdir. Lipit depolama ve mobilizasyonunu düzenleyerek, LD'ler, enerji metabolizması, membran ve organel biyogenezi, hücre sinyalleşmesi ve gen transkripsiyonu dahil olmak üzere hayatta kalma, büyüme ve çoğalma için gerekli olan temel hücresel süreçleri doğrudan etkiler. Bu derlemede, LD'lerin bileşimi ve sentezi ele alınmakta ve özellikle seçilmiş kanser türlerine odaklanarak, kanser oluşumundaki kritik rolleri incelenmektedir.

Keywords

• Kanser
• lipit damlacığı
• lipit enerji metabolizması

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