Cancer cells are demarcated from normal cells by distinct biological hallmarks, including the reprogramming of metabolic processes. One of the key players involved in metabolic reprogramming is stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), which converts saturated fatty acids to monounsaturated fatty acids in an oxygen-dependent reaction that is crucial for maintaining fatty acid homeostasis. As such, SCD has been identified as a potential therapeutic target in numerous types of cancers, and its inhibition suppresses cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. This review summarizes the evidence implicating SCD in cancer progression and proposes novel therapeutic strategies for targeting SCD in solid tumors.
©2022 American Association for Cancer Research.