Small lipids as therapeutic targets in cancer

Two related oncogenic phospholipids, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) are implicated in the pathogenesis of variety of cancer types. We have identified that these lipids work at multiple levels in the pathogenesis and maintenance of the tumour phenotype of different cancer types. Work presented here demonstrates the therapeutic potential of targeting these lipids and the signaling pathways they regulate in the treatment of several malignancies with poor prognosis, including those of the head and neck cancer and kidney.