• DLPC, the main component of phosphatidylcholine, induces ferroptosis in cancer cells, offering a novel therapeutic avenue.
• The specific acyl chain length and unsaturation pattern of DLPC are critical for its anti-cancer activity, as structurally similar PCs lack this effect.
• PC exhibits dose-dependent inhibition of MC38 colon cancer cell viability, with DLPC being the most potent component.
• This study underscores the need to investigate individual lipid species rather than treating PC as a whole, revealing distinct biological functions.