Mitochondrial lipid metabolism in tumor immunosurveillance and evasion

Mitochondrial lipid metabolism plays a pivotal role in tumor immunosurveillance and immune evasion. This review explores how mitochondrial regulation shapes immune cell metabolism within the tumor microenvironment (TME), focusing on the antitumor effects of the mitochondrial-fueled immune response and the detrimental impact of impaired mitochondrial function on immune cell cytotoxicity. Although current studies support this dual role, critical gaps remain, including how immune cells adapt differently to the lipid-rich TME, and how therapies can target lipid metabolism without harming immune memory. By synthesizing current findings and highlighting these uncertainties, this review highlights mitochondrial lipid metabolism as a promising therapeutic axis in cancer immunotherapy.