• ACLY is a key enzyme linking glucose and lipid metabolism, and its overexpression promotes tumorigenesis in multiple cancer types.
• ACLY exerts oncogenic effects not only via metabolic reprogramming but also through epigenetic regulation and protein acetylation.
• Pharmacological inhibitors of ACLY show antitumor activity in preclinical studies, but clinical translation remains limited.
• Targeting ACLY represents a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment, with potential for combination therapies.