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Quantitative Determination of De Novo Fatty Acid Synthesis in Brown Adipose Tissue Using Deuterium Oxide
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Molecular Pathways: Fatty Acid Synthase

Suzanne F Jones1, Jeffrey R Infante2

  • 1Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, Tennessee.

Clinical Cancer Research : an Official Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research
|November 1, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Targeting tumor metabolism with fatty acid synthase (FASN) inhibitors is a promising new cancer therapy. Newer FASN inhibitors are advancing, with some entering clinical trials for cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Metabolism
  • Drug Development

Background:

  • Cancer cells rely on lipid synthesis for growth and survival.
  • Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is crucial for producing lipids, making it a key oncologic target.
  • Targeting tumor metabolism represents a novel therapeutic strategy in oncology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of FASN in cancer.
  • To discuss the development of FASN inhibitors as anticancer therapies.
  • To highlight the potential of FASN inhibition in clinical settings.

Main Methods:

  • Review of preclinical and clinical studies on FASN inhibitors.
  • Analysis of the pharmacologic properties and side-effect profiles of FASN inhibitors.
  • Identification of novel FASN inhibitors in development.

Main Results:

  • Early-generation FASN inhibitors faced limitations in pharmacology and side effects.
  • A new generation of FASN inhibitors, including TVB-2640, is under investigation.
  • TVB-2640 is the only FASN inhibitor that has advanced to clinical trials.

Conclusions:

  • FASN inhibition is a promising therapeutic approach for cancer patients.
  • Combination therapies involving FASN inhibitors may offer enhanced efficacy.
  • Further clinical investigation of FASN inhibitors is warranted.

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