Dropping in on lipid droplets: Insights into cellular stress and cancer

Peter Shyu, Xing Fah Alex Wong, Karen Crasta*, Guillaume Thibault

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

54 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Lipid droplets (LD) have increasingly become a major topic of research in recent years following its establishment as a highly dynamic organelle. Contrary to the initial view of LDs being passive cytoplasmic structures for lipid storage, studies have provided support on how they act in concert with different organelles to exert functions in various cellular processes. Although lipid dysregulation resulting from aberrant LD homeostasis has been well characterised, how this translates and contributes to cancer progression is poorly understood. This review summarises the different paradigms on how LDs function in the regulation of cellular stress as a contributing factor to cancer progression. Mechanisms employed by a broad range of cancer cell types in differentially utilising LDs for tumourigenesis will also be highlighted. Finally, we discuss the potential of targeting LDs in the context of cancer therapeutics.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-20
Number of pages20
JournalBioscience Reports
Volume38
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 19 2018
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The Author(s).

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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