Dietary fat and lipid metabolism in the tumor microenvironment

Metabolic reprogramming has been considered a core hallmark of cancer, in which excessive accumulation of lipids promote cancer initiation, progression and metastasis. Lipid metabolism often includes the digestion and absorption of dietary fat, and the ways in which cancer cells utilize lipids are often influenced by the complex interactions within the tumor microenvironment. Among multiple cancer risk factors, obesity has a positive association with multiple cancer types, while diets like calorie restriction and fasting improve health and delay cancer. Impact of these diets on tumorigenesis or cancer prevention are generally studied on cancer cells, despite heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment. Cancer cells regularly interact with these heterogeneous microenvironmental components, including immune and stromal cells, to promote cancer progression and metastasis, and there is an intricate metabolic crosstalk between these compartments. Here, we focus on discussing fat metabolism and response to dietary fat in the tumor microenvironment, focusing on both immune and stromal components and shedding light on therapeutic strategies surrounding lipid metabolic and signaling pathways.

Automated summary

Metabolic reprogramming and the utilization of lipids play a crucial role in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. The complex interactions within the tumor microenvironment influence how cancer cells utilize lipids. Obesity is associated with multiple cancer types, while diets like calorie restriction and fasting have been shown to improve health and delay cancer. Cancer cells interact with immune and stromal components within the heterogeneous microenvironment, and there is a complex metabolic crosstalk between these compartments. Understanding lipid metabolism and signaling pathways is therefore important for developing therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.