Targeting lipid metabolism to enhance cancer immunotherapy

In recent years, the interaction between lipid metabolism and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has become a key area of research in cancer treatment. Tumor cells utilize lipid metabolism reprogramming to promote rapid proliferation, evade immune surveillance, and develop resistance to treatment, highlighting the significant role of lipid metabolism in cancer progression and immune regulation. This review analyzes the mechanisms by which lipid metabolism reshapes the tumor microenvironment (TME) and collaborates with ICIs to enhance therapeutic effects. We discussed how lipid metabolism regulates tumor phenotypes and summarized the impact of dysregulated lipid metabolism on infiltrating immune cells in the TME. We propose that targeting lipid metabolism may be a promising strategy for improving immunotherapy. Furthermore, we suggest that lipid metabolism can serve as a predictive biomarker for the response to immunotherapy and guide the immunotherapy process. Finally, we outline future research directions, including the development of innovative drugs targeting lipid metabolism to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy.