Zebrafish as a New Model to Study the Crosstalk between Tumor and Host Metabolism

The mechanism of metabolic crosstalk between different tissues in the host remains poorly understood but is likely to play important roles in tumor growth and cachexia. A recent study from Naser, Jackstadt, et al. utilizes isotope tracing in a zebrafish melanoma model and finds that tumors secrete alanine into circulation, which is taken up by the liver and used for gluconeogenesis.