Abstract: Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) is the key and rate-limiting enzyme of long chain fatty acids β-oxidation in liver cells. CPT1A and CPT1C are subtypes of CPT1 which can promote tumor growth. CPT1A was overexpressed and amplificated in glioblastoma, lymphoma, esophageal cancer and breast cancer. The drugs which could inhibit the activity or expression of CPT1A had anti-tumor effects. Therefore, CPT1 has roles in promoting the tumorigenesis, and it may develop into an molecular biomarker and a new target for cancer therapy.

Key words: CPT1, β-oxidation, malignant tumor, tumorigenesis