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Hereditas(Beijing) ›› 2024, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (6): 438-451.doi: 10.16288/j.yczz.24-095

• Invited Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The roles of branched-chain amino acids metabolism in tumorigenesis and progression

Yuan Shen(), Jintao Li, Miao Yin, Qunying Lei()   

  1. Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Cancer Institutes, Shanghai 200032, China
  • Received:2024-04-03 Revised:2024-05-27 Online:2024-06-20 Published:2024-05-28
  • Contact: Qunying Lei E-mail:yuanshen20@fudan.edu.cn;qlei@fudan.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Key R&D Program of China(2020YFA0803402);National Key R&D Program of China(2019YFA0801703);Natural Science Foundation of China(82121004);Natural Science Foundation of China(82330092);Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission(2023ZKZD11);Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project, and the New Cornerstone Science Foundation

Abstract:

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine, valine, and isoleucine, play crucial roles in regulating metabolic balance and maintaining physiological functions in the body. Extensive studies have been focused on their implications in obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, accumulating evidence suggests that BCAAs metabolism also plays significant roles in tumorigenesis and progression. In this review, we overview recent progress of the study on BCAAs metabolism including its relationship with epigenetic regulation. Particularly, we discuss the metabolic reprogramming and metabolic sensing of BCAAs and its intermediate metabolites in tumor cells and microenvironment to decipher their functions. An enhanced understanding of the roles and mechanism of BCAAs metabolism in tumorigenesis and progression will contribute to development of novel therapeutic strategies against tumor.

Key words: BCAAs, tumor cells, tumor microenvironment, metabolic sensing, metabolic reprogramming, epigenetics