The action of free fatty acids on glycolytic enzymes was compared in normal and neoplastic tissues. Preincubation of tissue supernatant fractions with octanoate or laurate caused an inhibition of the activities of hexokinase and phosphofructokinase. An inhibition was also observed of lactate production with either glucose or glucose 6-phosphate as substrate. A similar degree of inhibition was observed for actions on normal liver and kidney, on the 7800 and 3924-A hepatomas and on the MK-3 renal cortical tumor. The possible relationship between the inhibition of glycolytic enzymes by fatty acids and anti-tumor activity previously observed with these compounds was noted.