Targeting Lipid Transport Pathways: A New Frontier in Colorectal Cancer Therapy

Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents a significant global health challenge, with lipid metabolism emerging as a critical determinant of tumor progression. This review comprehensively examines lipid transport proteins (LTPs) as key regulators of cancer cell metabolism, revealing their complex interactions with cellular processes and the tumor microenvironment. We highlight how LTPs, including fatty acid transport proteins, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, and solute carrier family proteins, fundamentally influence CRC development through metabolic reprogramming. Notably, altered lipid metabolic pathways enable cancer cells to adapt to high energy demands, with specific transporters like fatty acid transport protein 5(FATP5)and ATP-binding cassette sub-family 12(ABCA12)showing aberrant expression in CRC. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests intricate relationships between gut microbiota and lipid transport, offering potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. The review underscores the potential of LTPs as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets, emphasizing the need for personalized, multi-omics approaches to comprehensively understand and potentially intervene in CRC progression.