FABP4 in lipid metabolism and the tumor microenvironment: mechanisms and therapeutic potential

Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), a key member of the fatty acid-binding protein family, is involved primarily in fatty acid transport, metabolic regulation, and inflammatory signaling. In recent years, numerous studies have shown that abnormal FABP4 expression in various tumors influences the metabolism of lipids and its metabolic products in tumors, significantly regulating tumor progression through processes such as oxidative stress, epithelial‒mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and the immune microenvironment. This review focuses on the role of FABP4 in tumors and systematically elucidates the specific mechanisms through which FABP4 regulates lipid metabolism and alters the tumor microenvironment. This review also provides an in-depth analysis of the complex network relationship between FABP4-mediated lipid metabolism and the tumor microenvironment and reveals the critical role of FABP4 in tumor occurrence, development, and metastasis, offering a new theoretical basis and potential targets for tumor therapy.