Inhibition of fatty acid synthesis induces differentiation and reduces tumor burden in childhood neuroblastoma.

Many metabolic pathways, including lipid metabolism, are rewired in tumors to support energy and biomass production and to allow adaptation to stressful environments. Neuroblastoma is the second deadliest solid tumor in children. Genetic aberrations, as the amplification of the -oncogene, correlate strongly with disease progression. Yet, there are only a few molecular targets successfully exploited in the clinic. Here we show that inhibition of fatty acid synthesis led to increased neural differentiation and reduced tumor burden in neuroblastoma xenograft experiments independently of -status. This was accompanied by reduced levels of the MYCN or c-MYC oncoproteins and activation of ERK signaling. Importantly, the expression levels of genes involved in fatty acid synthesis showed prognostic value for neuroblastoma patients. Our findings demonstrate that inhibition of fatty acid synthesis is a promising pharmacological intervention strategy for the treatment of neuroblastoma independently of -status.