Lipid metabolism in colorectal cancer

The altered lipid metabolism of colorectal cancer cells (CRC) drives proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance, making it an important therapeutic target. 

Stromal and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), especially adipocytes, contribute to lipid dysregulation, for example, by providing exogenous lipids while the altered lipid profile in the TME modulates the activity of TME residing immune cells.

The gut microbiome shapes systemic and intestinal lipid profiles by modulating hepatic lipogenesis, dietary lipid absorption, and microbial lipid metabolism while TME-residing bacteria dysregulate CRC lipid metabolism, promoting CRC progression and stemness.

The effects of lipid metabolism inhibitors on the TME and the gut microbiome, and their reciprocal influence on therapy outcomes, remain poorly understood, highlighting the need for more integrative and holistic research approaches.

https://www.cell.com/trends/cancer/fulltext/S2405-8033(25)00203-1

https://sciencemission.com/Host-and-microbiome-lipid-metabolism-in-CRC