Abstract
Cancer belongs to serious diseases with changed metabolism of lipids including fatty acids. There is evidence that deregulation of fatty acid (FA) metabolism is connected with proliferation and progression of cancer.
There is higher intensity of de novo synthesis of fatty acids and lipolysis in cancer cells. We can find increased activity of fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP 4), CD36, acetyl-CoA karboxylase, fatty acid synthase (FAS), stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD-1) resulting in higher amount of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids.
Polyunsatured fatty acids (PUFA) are also very important in processes of carcinogenesis. Polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-6 have negative effects, they enable proliferation, invasiveness and progression of cancer.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 have protective effects in breast, colon and pancreatic cancer, on the other hand they have negative effects in prostate cancer. Polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 inhibit cachexia due to inhibition of activity of proteasomes.
The knowledge about changes of lipid metabolism and role of fatty acids could be used in the therapy of cancer. We use drugs to inhibit activity of involved enzymes, e.g. fatty acid synthase or stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 inhibitors.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 work as a protective factor against cachexy. Chemotherapy could be augmented by addition of polyunsaturated fatty acids causing more powerful impact on killing of cancer cells.
Conclusion: There is a need for further investigation of fatty acids in cancer.