CPT1A in cancer: Tumorigenic roles and therapeutic implications

Metabolic reprogramming frequently occurs in the majority of cancers, wherein fatty acid oxidation (FAO) is usually induced and serves as a compensatory mechanism to improve energy consumption. Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) is the rate-limiting enzyme for FAO and is widely involved in tumor growth, metastasis, and chemo-/radio-resistance. This review summarizes the most recent advances in understanding the oncogenic roles and mechanisms of CPT1A in tumorigenesis, including in proliferation and tumor growth, invasion and metastasis, and the tumor microenvironment. Importantly, CPT1A has been shown to be a biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis prediction and proved to be a candidate therapeutic target, especially for the treatment of drug- and radiation-resistant tumors. In summary, CPT1A plays remarkable roles in promoting cancer progression and is a potential anticancer therapeutic target.