Control of Cell Growth and Survival by Enzymes of the Fatty Acid Synthesis Pathway in HCT-116 Colon Cancer Cells

Abstract

Control of tumor cell survival by different steps in de novo lipogenesis can be quantified. Because ACC1 and FAS both significantly control tumor cell growth and apoptosis, we propose that pharmacologic inhibitors of either enzyme might be useful agents in targeting cancer cells that critically rely on fatty acid synthesis. The experimental approach described here may be extended to other targets or disease-relevant pathways to identify steps suitable for therapeutic intervention.