Fatty acids: from adipocytes to cancer cells

Cancer cells have re-programmed metabolism which acquires them competitive advantages. The most renowned discovery is the Warburg effect which refers to the production of lactic acid from glucose in cancer cells even under non-hypoxic conditions. Otto Warburg concluded this phenomenon was the result of damaged mitochondria and impaired respiration in cancer cells. Until recently emerging evidence show that such a conclusion is erroneous because cancer cells do have functional mitochondria. Since then, lipid metabolism in cancer cells has attracted much attention.