Multifaceted role of branched-chain amino acid metabolism in cancer

Multifaceted role of branched-chain amino acid metabolism in cancer

Play all audios:

Loading...

ABSTRACT Metabolic reprogramming fulfils increased nutrient demands and regulates numerous oncogenic processes in tumors, leading to tumor malignancy. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs,


i.e., valine, leucine, and isoleucine) function as nitrogen donors to generate macromolecules such as nucleotides and are indispensable for human cancer cell growth. The cell-autonomous and


non-autonomous roles of altered BCAA metabolism have been implicated in cancer progression and the key proteins in the BCAA metabolic pathway serve as possible prognostic and diagnostic


biomarkers in human cancers. Here we summarize how BCAA metabolic reprogramming is regulated in cancer cells and how it influences cancer progression. Access through your institution Buy or


subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access through your institution Subscribe to this journal Receive 50 print issues and online


access $259.00 per year only $5.18 per issue Learn more Buy this article * Purchase on SpringerLink * Instant access to full article PDF Buy now Prices may be subject to local taxes which


are calculated during checkout ADDITIONAL ACCESS OPTIONS: * Log in * Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS


AMINO ACID METABOLISM IN TUMOR BIOLOGY AND THERAPY Article Open access 13 January 2024 EMERGING MECHANISMS AND PROMISING APPROACHES IN PANCREATIC CANCER METABOLISM Article Open access 01


August 2024 EXPLORING METABOLIC REPROGRAMMING IN ESOPHAGEAL CANCER: THE ROLE OF KEY ENZYMES IN GLUCOSE, AMINO ACID, AND NUCLEOTIDE PATHWAYS AND TARGETED THERAPIES Article 10 January 2025


REFERENCES * DeBerardinis RJ, Chandel NS. Fundamentals of cancer metabolism. Sci Adv. 2016;2:e1600200. PubMed  Google Scholar  * Faubert B, Solmonson A, DeBerardinis RJ. Metabolic


reprogramming and cancer progression. Science. 2020;368:eaaw5473. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Sivanand S, Vander Heiden MG. Emerging roles for branched-chain amino acid metabolism in


cancer. Cancer Cell. 2020;37:147–56. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Holeček M. Branched-chain amino acids in health and disease: metabolism, alterations in blood plasma, and as supplements.


Nutr Metab. 2018;15:33. Google Scholar  * Ananieva EA, Wilkinson AC. Branched-chain amino acid metabolism in cancer. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab care. 2018;21:64–70. CAS  PubMed  Google


Scholar  * Zhang B, Chen Y, Shi X, Zhou M, Bao L, Hatanpaa KJ, et al. Regulation of branched-chain amino acid metabolism by hypoxia-inducible factor in glioblastoma. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2020.


https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-020-03483-1. * Tönjes M, Barbus S, Park YJ, Wang W, Schlotter M, Lindroth AM, et al. BCAT1 promotes cell proliferation through amino acid catabolism in


gliomas carrying wild-type IDH1. Nat Med. 2013;19:901–8. PubMed  Google Scholar  * Li JT, Yin M, Wang D, Wang J, Lei MZ, Zhang Y, et al. BCAT2-mediated BCAA catabolism is critical for


development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Nat Cell Biol. 2020;22:167–74. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Lee JH, Cho YR, Kim JH, Kim J, Nam HY, Kim SW, et al. Branched-chain amino


acids sustain pancreatic cancer growth by regulating lipid metabolism. Exp Mol Med. 2019;51:1–11. PubMed  Google Scholar  * Zhu Z, Achreja A, Meurs N, Animasahun O, Owen S, Mittal A, et al.


Tumour-reprogrammed stromal BCAT1 fuels branched-chain ketoacid dependency in stromal-rich PDAC tumours. Nat Metab. 2020;2:775–92. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Gu Z, Liu Y, Cai F, Patrick


M, Zmajkovic J, Cao H, et al. Loss of EZH2 reprograms BCAA metabolism to drive leukemic transformation. Cancer Discov. 2019;9:1228–47. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Hattori A, Tsunoda M,


Konuma T, Kobayashi M, Nagy T, Glushka J, et al. Cancer progression by reprogrammed BCAA metabolism in myeloid leukaemia. Nature. 2017;545:500–4. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Raffel S,


Falcone M, Kneisel N, Hansson J, Wang W, Lutz C, et al. BCAT1 restricts alphaKG levels in AML stem cells leading to IDHmut-like DNA hypermethylation. Nature. 2017;551:384–8. CAS  PubMed 


Google Scholar  * Mayers JR, Torrence ME, Danai LV, Papagiannakopoulos T, Davidson SM, Bauer MR, et al. Tissue of origin dictates branched-chain amino acid metabolism in mutant Kras-driven


cancers. Science. 2016;353:1161–5. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Zhang L, Han J. Branched-chain amino acid transaminase 1 (BCAT1) promotes the growth of breast cancer cells through


improving mTOR-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis and function. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2017;486:224–31. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Wang Z-Q, Faddaoui A, Bachvarova M, Plante M,


Gregoire J, Renaud M-C, et al. BCAT1 expression associates with ovarian cancer progression: possible implications in altered disease metabolism. Oncotarget. 2015;6:31522–43. PubMed  Google


Scholar  * Qu YY, Zhao R, Zhang HL, Zhou Q, Xu FJ, Zhang X, et al. Inactivation of the AMPK-GATA3-ECHS1 pathway induces fatty acid synthesis that promotes clear cell renal cell carcinoma


growth. Cancer Res. 2020;80:319–33. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Martin SB, Reiche WS, Fifelski NA, Schultz AJ, Stanford SJ, Martin AA, et al. Leucine and branched chain amino acid


metabolism contribute to the growth of bone sarcomas by regulating AMPK and mTORC1 signaling. Biochemical J. 2020;477:1579–99. CAS  Google Scholar  * Wang P, Wu S, Zeng X, Zhang Y, Zhou Y,


Su L, et al. BCAT1 promotes proliferation of endometrial cancer cells through reprogrammed BCAA metabolism. Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2018;11:5536–46. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Ericksen


RE, Lim SL, McDonnell E, Shuen WH, Vadiveloo M, White PJ, et al. Loss of BCAA catabolism during carcinogenesis enhances mTORC1 activity and promotes Tumor development and progression. Cell


Metab. 2019;29:1151–65.e1156. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Kim DK, Kim IJ, Hwang S, Kook JH, Lee M-C, Shin BA, et al. System L-amino acid transporters are differently expressed in rat


astrocyte and C6 glioma cells. Neurosci Res. 2004;50:437–46. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Shennan DB, Thomson J, Gow IF, Travers MT, Barber MC. L-leucine transport in human breast cancer


cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231): kinetics, regulation by estrogen and molecular identity of the transporter. Biochimica et biophysica acta. 2004;1664:206–16. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  *


Baracos VE, Mackenzie ML. Investigations of branched-chain amino acids and their metabolites in animal models of cancer. J Nutr. 2006;136:237s–42s. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Yoneshiro


T, Wang Q, Tajima K, Matsushita M, Maki H, Igarashi K, et al. BCAA catabolism in brown fat controls energy homeostasis through SLC25A44. Nature. 2019;572:614–9. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 


* Hall TR, Wallin R, Reinhart GD, Hutson SM. Branched chain aminotransferase isoenzymes. Purification and characterization of the rat brain isoenzyme. J Biol Chem. 1993;268:3092–8. CAS 


PubMed  Google Scholar  * Silva LS, Poschet G, Nonnenmacher Y, Becker HM, Sapcariu S, Gaupel AC, et al. Branched-chain ketoacids secreted by glioblastoma cells via MCT1 modulate macrophage


phenotype. EMBO Rep. 2017;18:2172–85. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Abla H, Sollazzo M, Gasparre G, Iommarini L, Porcelli AM. The multifaceted contribution of α-ketoglutarate to tumor


progression: an opportunity to exploit? Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2020;98:26–33. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Zdzisińska B, Żurek A, Kandefer-Szerszeń M. Alpha-ketoglutarate as a molecule with


pleiotropic activity: well-known and novel possibilities of therapeutic use. Archivum Immunol et Therapiae Experimentalis. 2017;65:21–36. Google Scholar  * Cluntun AA, Lukey MJ, Cerione RA,


Locasale JW. Glutamine metabolism in cancer: understanding the heterogeneity. Trends Cancer. 2017;3:169–80. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Biswas D, Duffley L, Pulinilkunnil T. Role of


branched-chain amino acid-catabolizing enzymes in intertissue signaling, metabolic remodeling, and energy homeostasis. FASEB J. 2019;33:8711–31. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Zhou W, Feng


X, Ren C, Jiang X, Liu W, Huang W, et al. Over-expression of BCAT1, a c-Myc target gene, induces cell proliferation, migration and invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Mol cancer.


2013;12:53. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Zheng YH, Hu WJ, Chen BC, Grahn TH, Zhao YR, Bao HL, et al. BCAT1, a key prognostic predictor of hepatocellular carcinoma, promotes cell


proliferation and induces chemoresistance to cisplatin. Liver Int. 2016;36:1836–47. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Xu M, Liu Q, Jia Y, Tu K, Yao Y, Liu Q, et al. BCAT1 promotes tumor cell


migration and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol Lett. 2016;12:2648–56. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Elorza A, Soro-Arnáiz I, Meléndez-Rodríguez F, Rodríguez-Vaello V, Marsboom G,


de Cárcer G, et al. HIF2α acts as an mTORC1 activator through the amino acid carrier SLC7A5. Mol Cell. 2012;48:681–91. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Dey P, Baddour J, Muller F, Wu CC, Wang


H, Liao W-T, et al. Genomic deletion of malic enzyme 2 confers collateral lethality in pancreatic cancer. Nature. 2017;542:119–23. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Hatazawa Y, Tadaishi M,


Nagaike Y, Morita A, Ogawa Y, Ezaki O, et al. PGC-1α-mediated branched-chain amino acid metabolism in the skeletal muscle. PloS ONE. 2014;9:e91006. PubMed  Google Scholar  * Shimizu N,


Yoshikawa N, Ito N, Maruyama T, Suzuki Y, Takeda S-I, et al. Crosstalk between glucocorticoid receptor and nutritional sensor mTOR in skeletal muscle. Cell Metab. 2011;13:170–82. CAS  Google


Scholar  * Shimomura Y, Murakami T, Nakai N, Nagasaki M, Harris RA. Exercise promotes BCAA catabolism: effects of BCAA supplementation on skeletal muscle during exercise. J Nutr.


2004;134:1583S–7S. CAS  Google Scholar  * Terakura D, Shimizu M, Iwasa J, Baba A, Kochi T, Ohno T, et al. Preventive effects of branched-chain amino acid supplementation on the spontaneous


development of hepatic preneoplastic lesions in C57BL/KsJ-db/db obese mice. Carcinogenesis. 2012;33:2499–506. CAS  Google Scholar  * Arakawa M, Masaki T, Nishimura J, Seike M, Yoshimatsu H.


The effects of branched-chain amino acid granules on the accumulation of tissue triglycerides and uncoupling proteins in diet-induced obese mice. Endocr J. 2011;58:161–70. CAS  PubMed 


Google Scholar  * Zou H, Liao M, Xu W, Yao R, Liao W. Data mining of the expression and regulatory role of BCAT1 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol Lett. 2019;18:5879–88. CAS  PubMed  Google


Scholar  * Wang Y, Zhang J, Ren S, Sun D, Huang H-Y, Wang H, et al. Branched-chain amino acid metabolic reprogramming orchestrates drug resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase Inhibitors. Cell


Rep. 2019;28:512–25.e516. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * McBrayer SK, Mayers JR, DiNatale GJ, Shi DD, Khanal J, Chakraborty AA, et al. Transaminase inhibition by 2-hydroxyglutarate impairs


glutamate biosynthesis and redox homeostasis in glioma. Cell. 2018;175:101–16.e125. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Mayers JR, Wu C, Clish CB, Kraft P, Torrence ME, Fiske BP, et al. Elevation


of circulating branched-chain amino acids is an early event in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma development. Nat Med. 2014;20:1193–8. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Wolfson RL, Chantranupong


L, Saxton RA, Shen K, Scaria SM, Cantor JR, et al. Sestrin2 is a leucine sensor for the mTORC1 pathway. Science. 2016;351:43–8. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Tian T, Li X, Zhang J. mTOR


signaling in cancer and mTOR inhibitors in solid tumor targeting therapy. Int J Mol Sci. 2019;20:755. CAS  Google Scholar  * Mossmann D, Park S, Hall MN. mTOR signalling and cellular


metabolism are mutual determinants in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer. 2018;18:744–57. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Kaelin William G Jr., McKnight Steven L. Influence of metabolism on epigenetics


and disease. Cell. 2013;153:56–69. PubMed  Google Scholar  * Loenarz C, Schofield CJ. Expanding chemical biology of 2-oxoglutarate oxygenases. Nat Chem Biol. 2008;4:152–6. CAS  PubMed 


Google Scholar  * Epstein ACR, Gleadle JM, McNeill LA, Hewitson KS, O’Rourke J, Mole DR, et al. C. elegans EGL-9 and Mammalian homologs define a family of dioxygenases that regulate HIF by


prolyl hydroxylation. Cell. 2001;107:43–54. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Ivan M, Kaelin WG Jr. The EGLN-HIF O2-sensing system: multiple inputs and feedbacks. Mol Cell. 2017;66:772–9. CAS 


PubMed  Google Scholar  * Semenza GL. Defining the role of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 in cancer biology and therapeutics. Oncogene. 2010;29:625–34. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Luo W, Wang


Y. Hypoxia mediates tumor malignancy and therapy resistance. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2019;1136:1–18. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Luo W, Wang Y. Epigenetic regulators: multifunctional proteins


modulating hypoxia-inducible factor-α protein stability and activity. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2018;75:1043–56. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Xu W, Yang H, Liu Y, Yang Y, Wang P, Kim S-H, et al.


Oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate is a competitive inhibitor of α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases. Cancer Cell. 2011;19:17–30. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Chowdhury R, Yeoh KK, Tian


YM, Hillringhaus L, Bagg EA, Rose NR, et al. The oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate inhibits histone lysine demethylases. EMBO Rep. 2011;12:463–9. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Zhenyukh O,


Civantos E, Ruiz-Ortega M, Sánchez MS, Vázquez C, Peiró C, et al. High concentration of branched-chain amino acids promotes oxidative stress, inflammation and migration of human peripheral


blood mononuclear cells via mTORC1 activation. Free Radic Biol Med. 2017;104:165–77. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Xue P, Zeng F, Duan Q, Xiao J, Liu L, Yuan P, et al. BCKDK of BCAA


catabolism cross-talking with the MAPK pathway promotes tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer. EBioMed. 2017;20:50–60. Google Scholar  * Tian Q, Yuan P, Quan C, Li M, Xiao J, Zhang L, et al.


Phosphorylation of BCKDK of BCAA catabolism at Y246 by Src promotes metastasis of colorectal cancer. Oncogene. 2020;39:3980–96. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Liu X, Zhang F, Zhang Y, Li X,


Chen C, Zhou M, et al. PPM1K regulates hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis through CDC20-mediated Ubiquitination of MEIS1 and p21. Cell Rep. 2018;23:1461–75. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  *


Ikeda K, Kinoshita M, Kayama H, Nagamori S, Kongpracha P, Umemoto E, et al. Slc3a2 mediates branched-chain amino-acid-dependent maintenance of regulatory T cells. Cell Rep. 2017;21:1824–38.


CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Ananieva EA, Patel CH, Drake CH, Powell JD, Hutson SM. Cytosolic branched chain aminotransferase (BCATc) regulates mTORC1 signaling and glycolytic metabolism


in CD4+ T cells. J Biol Chem. 2014;289:18793–804. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Takegoshi K, Honda M, Okada H, Takabatake R, Matsuzawa-Nagata N, Campbell JS, et al. Branched-chain amino


acids prevent hepatic fibrosis and development of hepatocellular carcinoma in a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis mouse model. Oncotarget. 2017;8:18191–205. PubMed  Google Scholar  * Iwasa M,


Kobayashi Y, Mifuji-Moroka R, Hara N, Miyachi H, Sugimoto R, et al. Branched-chain amino acid supplementation reduces oxidative stress and prolongs survival in rats with advanced liver


cirrhosis. PloS ONE. 2013;8:e70309. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Cha JH, Bae SH, Kim HL, Park NR, Choi ES, Jung ES, et al. Branched-chain amino acids ameliorate fibrosis and suppress tumor


growth in a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma with liver cirrhosis. PloS ONE. 2013;8:e77899. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Lee IJ, Seong J, Bae JI, You SH, Rhee Y, Lee JH. Effect of


oral supplementation with branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) during radiotherapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a double-blind randomized study. Cancer Res Treat. 2011;43:24–31.


PubMed  Google Scholar  * Imanaka K, Ohkawa K, Tatsumi T, Katayama K, Inoue A, Imai Y, et al. Impact of branched-chain amino acid supplementation on survival in patients with advanced


hepatocellular carcinoma treated with sorafenib: a multicenter retrospective cohort study. Hepatol Res. 2016;46:1002–10. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Iwasa M, Sugimoto R, Ishihara T,


Sekoguchi-Fujikawa N, Yoshikawa K, Mifuji-Moroka R, et al. Usefulness of levocarnitine and/or branched-chain amino acids during invasive treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma. J Nutr Sci


Vitaminol. 2015;61:433–40. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Takami T, Yamasaki T, Saeki I, Matsumoto T, Suehiro Y, Sakaida I. Supportive therapies for prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma


recurrence and preservation of liver function. World J Gastroenterol. 2016;22:7252–63. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Kuroda H, Ushio A, Miyamoto Y, Sawara K, Oikawa K, Kasai K, et al.


Effects of branched-chain amino acid-enriched nutrient for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma following radiofrequency ablation: a one-year prospective trial. J Gastroenterol Hepatol.


2010;25:1550–5. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Nojiri S, Fujiwara K, Shinkai N, Iio E, Joh T. Effects of branched-chain amino acid supplementation after radiofrequency ablation for


hepatocellular carcinoma: a randomized trial. Nutr (Burbank, Los Angeles Cty, Calif). 2017;33:20–7. CAS  Google Scholar  * Morihara D, Iwata K, Hanano T, Kunimoto H, Kuno S, Fukunaga A, et


al. Late-evening snack with branched-chain amino acids improves liver function after radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatol Res. 2012;42:658–67. CAS  PubMed  Google


Scholar  * Kawaguchi T, Shiraishi K, Ito T, Suzuki K, Koreeda C, Ohtake T, et al. Branched-chain amino acids prevent hepatocarcinogenesis and prolong survival of patients with cirrhosis.


Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014;12:1012–18.e1011. CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar  * Tada T, Kumada T, Toyoda H, Kiriyama S, Tanikawa M, Hisanaga Y, et al. Oral supplementation with


branched-chain amino acid granules prevents hepatocarcinogenesis in patients with hepatitis C-related cirrhosis: a propensity score analysis. Hepatol Res. 2014;44:288–95. CAS  PubMed  Google


Scholar  * Hayaishi S, Chung H, Kudo M, Ishikawa E, Takita M, Ueda T, et al. Oral branched-chain amino acid granules reduce the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and improve event-free


survival in patients with liver cirrhosis. Digestive Dis (Basel, Switz). 2011;29:326–32. Google Scholar  Download references ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Work in authors’ laboratories was supported by


grants from NIH (R01CA222393), CPRIT (RP190358), Mary Kay Foundation (08–19), and Welch Foundation (I-1903-20190330) to WL; and NIH (R01AG066166, R35GM124693) and UTSW startup funds to YW.


WL is a CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd.,


Dallas, TX, 75390, USA Hui Peng, Yingfei Wang & Weibo Luo * Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390, USA


Yingfei Wang * Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390, USA Weibo Luo Authors * Hui Peng View author


publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Yingfei Wang View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Weibo Luo View


author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHORS Correspondence to Yingfei Wang or Weibo Luo. ETHICS DECLARATIONS CONFLICT OF INTEREST


The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PUBLISHER’S NOTE Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and


institutional affiliations. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Peng, H., Wang, Y. & Luo, W. Multifaceted role of branched-chain amino


acid metabolism in cancer. _Oncogene_ 39, 6747–6756 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-020-01480-z Download citation * Received: 20 July 2020 * Revised: 09 September 2020 * Accepted: 15


September 2020 * Published: 25 September 2020 * Issue Date: 29 October 2020 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-020-01480-z SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will


be able to read this content: Get shareable link Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article. Copy to clipboard Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt


content-sharing initiative