LIPOAPOPTOSIS (LIPOPTOSIS): A MECHANISM OF PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH BY ACCUMULATION OF LIPIDS
Metabolic changes are one of the hallmarks of tumor progression. Alterations in lipid biosynthesis accompany malignant transformation of the cell, which requires rapidly production of new membranes for fast proliferation. Cancer cells are susceptible both to inhibition of lipid biosynthesis, and accumulation of lipids inside the cell, which triggers a unique form of cell death - lipoapoptosis. Inhibition of autophagy, activation of ER-stress response and both mitochondrial and receptor pathways of apoptosis accompany lipoapoptosis. A number of potential anti-cancer agents lead to accumulation of lipids inside the cell or to decrease of tolerance to high lipid concentrations. High specificity of some of such anti-cancer could make them a perspective class of drug for therapy.