Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


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8275157 
Journal Article 
Cancer and inhibition of fatty acid oxidation 
Huqi, A 
2011 
51 
27-30 
English 
Recently, a "metabolic transformation" property with increased glycolytic rates (Warburg effect) was described for cancer cells. It has been shown that there is an active interaction between mutations of crucial enzymes involved in metabolic pathways and of oncogenes, whose effector proteins also exert metabolic functions. Interestingly, because many of these metabolic changes are confined to the mutant clones, targeted therapy appears very promising in terms of both safety and efficacy. Pharmacological inhibition of glycolysis by dichloroacetate (DCA) significantly inhibits proliferation of cancer cells. However, because of the pharmacokinetic characteristics, the plasma concentration levels and, therefore, toxic effects (i.e., hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity) of DCA are difficult to predict. Similar metabolic modulation and antiproliferative effects can be obtained through inhibition of fatty acid oxidation. Such agents have been safely used in other clinical conditions such as heart disease and, as such, deserve further testing in cancer therapy. 
Cancer; Fatty acid oxidation; Metabolic modulation therapy; Warburg effect