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Updated: Oct 3, 2025
Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy
Published on: January 31, 2025
Lipid Droplets in Cancer: From Composition and Role to Imaging and Therapeutics
Patrícia Antunes1,2, Adriana Cruz1,2, José Barbosa1,2
1iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal.
Abstract:
Cancer is the second most common cause of death worldwide, having its origin in the abnormal growth of cells. Available chemotherapeutics still present major drawbacks, usually associated with high toxicity and poor distribution, with only a small fraction of drugs reaching the tumour sites. Thus, it is urgent to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Cancer cells can reprogram their lipid metabolism to sustain uncontrolled proliferation, and, therefore, accumulate a higher amount of lipid droplets (LDs). LDs are cytoplasmic organelles that store neutral lipids and are hypothesized to sequester anti-cancer drugs, leading to reduced efficacy. Thus, the increased biogenesis of LDs in neoplastic conditions makes them suitable targets for anticancer therapy and for the development of new dyes for cancer cells imaging. In recent years, cancer nanotherapeutics offered some exciting possibilities, including improvement tumour detection and eradication. In this review we summarize LDs biogenesis, structure and composition, and highlight their role in cancer theranostics.
Insights
Cancer cells accumulate lipid droplets (LDs), which can sequester drugs, reducing chemotherapy efficacy. Targeting LDs offers a novel strategy for cancer therapy and imaging.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cancer is a leading cause of death globally, characterized by abnormal cell growth.
- Current chemotherapy faces challenges like high toxicity and poor drug distribution to tumors.
- Cancer cells alter lipid metabolism, increasing lipid droplet (LD) accumulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the biogenesis, structure, and composition of lipid droplets (LDs).
- To highlight the role of LDs in cancer theranostics.
- To explore LDs as potential targets for novel anticancer therapies and imaging agents.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on lipid droplet biogenesis and function in cancer.
- Analysis of the role of LDs in drug sequestration and therapeutic resistance.
- Exploration of nanotherapeutics for enhanced tumor detection and eradication.
Main Results:
- Increased LD biogenesis is a hallmark of neoplastic conditions.
- LDs are hypothesized to sequester anticancer drugs, diminishing treatment effectiveness.
- LDs present opportunities for targeted cancer therapy and diagnostic imaging.
Conclusions:
- Lipid droplets are crucial organelles in cancer cell metabolism and proliferation.
- Targeting LDs can overcome drug resistance and improve therapeutic outcomes.
- LDs are promising targets for developing advanced cancer theranostics and imaging agents.
