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Branched-chain amino acid transaminases as promising targets in tumor therapy

Weiran Zhang1, Jie Shen1, Xuanyin Ding1

  • 1Department of Thoracic Oncology, Cancer Institute of Jiangsu University, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.

Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
|February 20, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Branched-chain amino acid transaminases (BCATs) drive cancer growth and drug resistance by altering metabolism and signaling. Targeting BCATs offers a promising strategy to overcome treatment resistance and improve cancer therapy outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Branched-chain amino acid transaminases (BCATs), specifically BCAT1 and BCAT2, are crucial enzymes in branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism.
  • Aberrant BCAT expression is implicated in the development and progression of numerous cancers, including gastric, pancreatic, lung, and breast cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of BCATs in cancer progression, including their influence on oncogenic pathways and metabolic reprogramming.
  • To explore the contribution of BCATs to therapeutic resistance across various cancer types.
  • To summarize current and potential therapeutic strategies targeting BCATs for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review synthesizing current research on BCATs in cancer.
  • Analysis of BCAT involvement in key signaling pathways (mTOR, PI3K/AKT, Wnt/β-catenin).
  • Examination of BCATs' role in metabolic reprogramming, epigenetics, and immune evasion.

Main Results:

  • BCATs regulate BCAA metabolism, impacting oncogenic signaling pathways and promoting tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis.
  • BCATs are associated with resistance to chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and endocrine therapy in various malignancies.
  • BCATs contribute to metabolic adaptation, epigenetic alterations, and immune evasion in the tumor microenvironment.

Conclusions:

  • BCATs are significant drivers of tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance, representing potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
  • Targeting BCATs through enzyme inhibitors, dietary interventions, or combination therapies holds promise for overcoming drug resistance.
  • Further research into BCAT mechanisms can pave the way for novel clinical applications in cancer treatment.
Keywords:
biomarkerbranched-chain amino acid transaminasesdrug resistanceoncogenic pathwaytumor metabolism

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