Targeting Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase in Solid Tumors

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 repro-gramming 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 inhibi-ti on 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 target-ing SCD in solid tumors.