"Resolving the SCD1-oleic acid paradox: majority of oleic acid is converted to free cholesterol in colorectal cancer cells".

[OBJECTIVE] This study aimed to elucidate the mystery of “disappearing” oleic acid (OA) in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. The primary objective was to verify if OA is predominantly used as an energy source or as a substrate for the synthesis of other molecules, given the paradox of elevated stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) expression and lower OA levels in CRC tissue.

[METHODS] Tissue samples from CRC patients were analyzed for fatty acid (FA) profiles (GC-MS) and SCD1 mRNA levels (real-time PCR). For in-vitro experiments, CRC cell lines (HT-29, WiDr) and a normal human colon cell line (CCD-881-CoN) were incubated with either C-stearic acid (SA) or H-OA. GC-MS was employed to track C-labeled FA conversions, whereas thin-layer chromatography (TLC) followed by radioactivity measurement for H-labeled metabolites was utilized.

[RESULTS] Tracking C-SA metabolism revealed its conversion to C-OA but also a significant “disappearance” of its metabolites from the FA pool. Experiments with H-OA showed that free cholesterol (FCH) was the most abundant molecule originating from H-OA (67–77% of redirected tritium) in CRC cells, indicating its major metabolic fate.

[CONCLUSIONS] This study provides strong evidence that in CRC cells, despite SCD1 overexpression, a significant amounts of OA are converted to FCH.

[SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION] The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-026-04190-w.