The impact of lipid metabolism on breast cancer: a review about its role in tumorigenesis and immune escape

Abstract Background Breast cancer (BC) is the second most frequent type of cancer in the world and most common among women, configuring a major challenge to global health. BC is a complex and heterogeneous disease that can be subdivided into distinct tumor types based on the expression of molecular...

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Main Authors: Diandra Zipinotti dos Santos, Josiany Carlos de Souza, Tatiana Massariol Pimenta, Bárbara da Silva Martins, Roberto Silva Ribeiro Junior, Solenny Maria Silva Butzene, Nayara Gusmão Tessarolo, Paulo Morais Lyra Cilas, Ian Victor Silva, Leticia B. A. Rangel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-06-01
Series:Cell Communication and Signaling
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-023-01178-1
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Summary:Abstract Background Breast cancer (BC) is the second most frequent type of cancer in the world and most common among women, configuring a major challenge to global health. BC is a complex and heterogeneous disease that can be subdivided into distinct tumor types based on the expression of molecular markers predicting patient outcomes and response to therapy. A growing number of studies have tried to expand the known markers by investigating the association of altered lipid metabolism with BC immune escape, progression, and metastasis. In this review, we describe the metabolic peculiarities of each BC subtype, understanding how this influences its aggressiveness and identifying whether these intrinsic vulnerabilities of each subtype can play a role in therapeutic management and may affect immune system cells in the tumor microenvironment. Conclusion The evidence suggests so far that when changes occur in lipid pathways, it can affect the availability of structural lipids for membrane synthesis, lipid synthesis, and degradation that contribute to energy homeostasis and cell signaling functions. These findings will guide the next steps on the path to understanding the mechanisms underlying how lipids alterations are related to disparities in chemotherapeutic response and immune escape in BC. Video Abstract
ISSN:1478-811X