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Targeting fatty acid metabolism in cancer and endothelial cells

Ulrike Harjes1, Joanna Kalucka1, Peter Carmeliet1

  • 1Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Neurovascular Link, Vesalius Research Center, Department of Oncology, University of Leuven, Leuven B-3000, Belgium; Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Neurovascular Link, Vesalius Research Center, VIB, Leuven B-3000, Belgium.

Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
|November 13, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Endothelial cells (ECs) use fatty acid oxidation (FAO) for proliferation, offering new anti-cancer strategies. Targeting FAO in ECs may inhibit tumour angiogenesis more effectively than current therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular metabolism
  • Cancer biology
  • Angiogenesis

Background:

  • Tumour angiogenesis is a validated anti-cancer target.
  • VEGF pathway inhibition shows limited clinical efficacy.
  • Endothelial cell (EC) metabolism is crucial for angiogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and compare fatty acid (FA) utilization in ECs and tumour cells (TCs).
  • To highlight novel therapeutic opportunities targeting EC metabolism.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of FA metabolism in ECs and TCs.
  • Comparison of metabolic pathways.

Main Results:

  • Glycolytic metabolism fuels EC angiogenesis.
  • Fatty acid oxidation (FAO) is essential for EC proliferation, providing nucleotides.
  • ECs uniquely utilize FAO for nucleotide synthesis.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting EC FAO presents a novel therapeutic strategy for anti-angiogenesis therapy.
  • Understanding FA utilization in ECs and TCs can inform future cancer treatments.
Keywords:
AngiogenesisCPT1ACancer cell metabolismEndothelial cell metabolismFatty acid metabolism

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