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Lipid metabolism in cancer is regulated by the integrated natural product-miRNA-target axis

Ya-Ting Chuang1, Ching-Yu Yen2, Yi-Hong Tsai3

  • 1Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, PhD Program in Life Sciences, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan.

Seminars in Cancer Biology
|November 30, 2025
PubMed

Insights

This review explores how natural products and microRNAs (miRNAs) target fatty acid metabolism in cancer. It highlights the interconnected pathways crucial for developing novel anticancer strategies by targeting lipid dysregulation.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Signaling lipids regulate critical cellular processes including proliferation, metabolism, invasion, migration, and apoptosis.
  • Dysregulated lipid metabolism is a recognized hallmark of cancer, presenting a therapeutic target.
  • Existing research shows natural products and microRNAs (miRNAs) modulate cancer cell fatty acid (FA) metabolism, but their integrated network is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the intricate connections between natural products, miRNAs, and their targets involved in dysregulated FA metabolism in cancer cells.
  • To elucidate the interactions within the natural product-miRNA-target axis for potential anticancer applications.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the bioinformatic STRING tool to analyze target-target interactions of dysregulated FA metabolism in cancer.
  • Integrated data from Google Scholar, miRTarBase, and miRDB to connect natural products and miRNAs to their respective targets.
  • Mapped the relationships within the natural product-miRNA-target axis.

Main Results:

  • Identified complex, intertwined lipid signaling networks with multiple interaction nodes and cross-regulations.
  • Established connections between natural products, miRNAs, and their targets modulating FA metabolism.
  • Revealed knowledge gaps and intricate connections between miRNA- and natural product-modulated FA metabolism.

Conclusions:

  • The natural product-miRNA-target axis plays a significant role in counteracting dysregulated FA metabolism in cancer.
  • Understanding these interactions provides a foundation for developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting cancer lipid metabolism.
  • Further research into these integrated networks can unlock new avenues for cancer treatment.
Keywords:
Lipid metabolismMiRNANatural productTarget-target interaction

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