胆固醇稳态与细胞和身体代谢的调节有关。因此，胆固醇稳态失调会导致许多疾病的发生，例如心血管疾病和神经退行性疾病等。最近的研究揭示了胆固醇代谢异常与癌症发展之间的联系。细胞水平上的胆固醇稳态在合成、流入、流出和酯化之间动态循环。这一动态过程的任何失调都会破坏胆固醇稳态及其衍生物，这可能会导致肿瘤进展。还有证据表明，促进恶性进展的癌症相关信号也调节胆固醇代谢。在这里，我们描述了胆固醇代谢与癌症特征之间的关系，特别关注分子机制以及针对胆固醇代谢的抗癌药物。© 2023。作者，获得 Springer Nature Limited 的独家许可。

Cholesterol homeostasis has been implicated in the regulation of cellular and body metabolism. Hence, deregulated cholesterol homeostasis leads to the development of many diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases, among others. Recent studies have unveiled the connection between abnormal cholesterol metabolism and cancer development. Cholesterol homeostasis at the cellular level dynamically circulates between synthesis, influx, efflux, and esterification. Any dysregulation of this dynamic process disrupts cholesterol homeostasis and its derivatives, which potentially contributes to tumor progression. There is also evidence that cancer-related signals, which promote malignant progression, also regulate cholesterol metabolism. Here, we described the relationship between cholesterol metabolism and cancer hallmarks, with particular focus on the molecular mechanisms, and the anticancer drugs that target cholesterol metabolism.© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.