Lipid Droplet and Its Implication in Cancer Progression

Overview

Journal Am J Cancer Res

Specialty Oncology

Date 2021 Jan 8

PMID 33414989

Citations 41

Authors

Zhenzhen Li

Huiwen Liu

Xiangjian Luo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Lipid droplets (LDs) are a kind of organelle that is commonly found in eukaryotic cells to store lipids, which encompass a hydrophobic core composed of a single layer of phospholipids and neutral lipids (mainly including triacylglycerol (TAG) and cholesterol ester (CE)) as well as a small amount of proteins. LD accumulation is gradually recognized as a prominent characteristic in a variety of cancers and attracts increasing attention on this field. In this article, we not only summarize the composition, synthesis and decomposition of LD, but also highlight its role in carcinogenesis and malignant development of cancers.

Citing Articles

Crosstalk between gut microbiotas and fatty acid metabolism in colorectal cancer.

Zhang H, Tian Y, Xu C, Chen M, Xiang Z, Gu L Cell Death Discov. 2025; 11(1):78.

PMID: 40011436 PMC: 11865559. DOI: 10.1038/s41420-025-02364-5.

Lipid metabolic reprogramming and associated ferroptosis in osteosarcoma: From molecular mechanisms to potential targets.

Yin Z, Shen G, Fan M, Zheng P J Bone Oncol. 2025; 51:100660.

PMID: 39958756 PMC: 11830322. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbo.2025.100660.

Perilipin2-dependent lipid droplets accumulation promotes metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma via epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Zhang J, Peng J, Wang S, Wang L, Sun Y, Xia J Cell Death Discov. 2025; 11(1):30.

PMID: 39875372 PMC: 11775315. DOI: 10.1038/s41420-025-02314-1.

Inhibiting de novo lipogenesis identifies a therapeutic vulnerability in therapy-resistant colorectal cancer.

Jog E, Jainarayanan A, La Ferlita A, Chakraborty A, Dalwai A, Yahya S Redox Biol. 2024; 79():103458.

PMID: 39705849 PMC: 11729006. DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103458.

Comprehensive analysis of LD-related genes signature for predicting prognosis and immunotherapy response in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Jia Y, Dong X, Yang F, Zhou L, Long H BMC Nephrol. 2024; 25(1):298.

PMID: 39256647 PMC: 11384682. DOI: 10.1186/s12882-024-03735-3.

References

Gong J, Maia M, Dizman N, Govindarajan A, Pal S . Metastasis in renal cell carcinoma: Biology and implications for therapy. Asian J Urol. 2017; 3(4):286-292. PMC: 5730828. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajur.2016.08.006. View

Paul A, Chang B, Li L, Yechoor V, Chan L . Deficiency of adipose differentiation-related protein impairs foam cell formation and protects against atherosclerosis. Circ Res. 2008; 102(12):1492-501. PMC: 2773502. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.107.168070. View

Qi W, Fitchev P, Cornwell M, Greenberg J, Cabe M, Weber C . FOXO3 growth inhibition of colonic cells is dependent on intraepithelial lipid droplet density. J Biol Chem. 2013; 288(23):16274-16281. PMC: 3675566. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M113.470617. View

Novellasdemunt L, Bultot L, Manzano A, Ventura F, Rosa J, Vertommen D . PFKFB3 activation in cancer cells by the p38/MK2 pathway in response to stress stimuli. Biochem J. 2013; 452(3):531-43. DOI: 10.1042/BJ20121886. View

Kawasaki K, Eizuka M, Nakamura S, Endo M, Yanai S, Akasaka R . Association between white opaque substance under magnifying colonoscopy and lipid droplets in colorectal epithelial neoplasms. World J Gastroenterol. 2018; 23(47):8367-8375. PMC: 5743507. DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i47.8367. View

Lettiero B, Inasu M, Kimbung S, Borgquist S . Insensitivity to atorvastatin is associated with increased accumulation of intracellular lipid droplets and fatty acid metabolism in breast cancer cells. Sci Rep. 2018; 8(1):5462. PMC: 5882899. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23726-3. View

Londos C, Sztalryd C, Tansey J, Kimmel A . Role of PAT proteins in lipid metabolism. Biochimie. 2005; 87(1):45-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2004.12.010. View

Zimmermann R, Strauss J, Haemmerle G, Schoiswohl G, Birner-Gruenberger R, Riederer M . Fat mobilization in adipose tissue is promoted by adipose triglyceride lipase. Science. 2004; 306(5700):1383-6. DOI: 10.1126/science.1100747. View

Tirinato L, Liberale C, Di Franco S, Candeloro P, Benfante A, La Rocca R . Lipid droplets: a new player in colorectal cancer stem cells unveiled by spectroscopic imaging. Stem Cells. 2014; 33(1):35-44. PMC: 4311668. DOI: 10.1002/stem.1837. View

10.

Wang K, Ruan H, Song Z, Cao Q, Bao L, Liu D . PLIN3 is up-regulated and correlates with poor prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Urol Oncol. 2018; 36(7):343.e9-343.e19. DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2018.04.006. View

11.

Cermelli S, Guo Y, Gross S, Welte M . The lipid-droplet proteome reveals that droplets are a protein-storage depot. Curr Biol. 2006; 16(18):1783-95. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2006.07.062. View

12.

Tirinato L, Pagliari F, Limongi T, Marini M, Falqui A, Seco J . An Overview of Lipid Droplets in Cancer and Cancer Stem Cells. Stem Cells Int. 2017; 2017:1656053. PMC: 5572636. DOI: 10.1155/2017/1656053. View

13.

Mehdizadeh A, Bonyadi M, Darabi M, Rahbarghazi R, Montazersaheb S, Velaei K . Common chemotherapeutic agents modulate fatty acid distribution in human hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal cancer cells. Bioimpacts. 2017; 7(1):31-39. PMC: 5439387. DOI: 10.15171/bi.2017.05. View

14.

Thiam A, Farese Jr R, Walther T . The biophysics and cell biology of lipid droplets. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2013; 14(12):775-86. PMC: 4526153. DOI: 10.1038/nrm3699. View

15.

Nardi F, Fitchev P, Brooks K, Franco O, Cheng K, Hayward S . Lipid droplet velocity is a microenvironmental sensor of aggressive tumors regulated by V-ATPase and PEDF. Lab Invest. 2019; 99(12):1822-1834. PMC: 7289525. DOI: 10.1038/s41374-019-0296-8. View

16.

Dutta P, Haller E, Sharp A, Nanjundan M . MIR494 reduces renal cancer cell survival coinciding with increased lipid droplets and mitochondrial changes. BMC Cancer. 2016; 16:33. PMC: 4722626. DOI: 10.1186/s12885-016-2053-3. View

17.

Xu L, Zhou L, Li P . CIDE proteins and lipid metabolism. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2012; 32(5):1094-8. DOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.111.241489. View

18.

Hanahan D, Weinberg R . Hallmarks of cancer: the next generation. Cell. 2011; 144(5):646-74. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.02.013. View

19.

Wolins N, Quaynor B, Skinner J, Tzekov A, Croce M, Gropler M . OXPAT/PAT-1 is a PPAR-induced lipid droplet protein that promotes fatty acid utilization. Diabetes. 2006; 55(12):3418-28. DOI: 10.2337/db06-0399. View

20.

Kory N, Farese Jr R, Walther T . Targeting Fat: Mechanisms of Protein Localization to Lipid Droplets. Trends Cell Biol. 2016; 26(7):535-546. PMC: 4976449. DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2016.02.007. View