Inhibition of fatty acid synthase induces pro-survival Akt and ERK signaling in K-Ras-driven cancer cells.

•Cancer cells with activated PI3K signaling are dependent on fatty acid synthase (FAS).•K-Ras-driven cancer cells depend on exogenous lipids.•Inhibition of FAS suppresses growth of cancer cells with activated PI3K signaling.•Blocking FAS elevates Akt and ERK phosphorylation in K-Ras-driven cancer cells.•K-Ras-driven cancer cells are killed by suppression of FAS, Akt, and Erk.