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

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how branched-chain amino acid transaminases (BCATs) contribute to cancer growth and resistance, suggesting they could be important targets for new therapies.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of BCATs' roles in cancer progression and resistance, highlighting them as novel therapeutic targets.

## Key findings

- BCATs regulate BCAA metabolism and influence oncogenic pathways like mTOR and PI3K/AKT.
- Aberrant BCAT expression is linked to chemotherapy resistance in cancers like gastric and pancreatic cancer.
- Targeting BCATs with inhibitors or dietary changes may improve treatment outcomes and overcome resistance.

## Abstract

Branched-chain amino acid transaminases (BCATs), including BCAT1 and BCAT2, play pivotal roles in tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance in various cancers. These enzymes regulate branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism and influence critical oncogenic pathways such as mTOR, PI3K/AKT, and Wnt/β-catenin signalling. Furthermore, BCATs contribute to metabolic reprogramming, epigenetic modifications, and immune evasion. Collectively, they promote tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, thus making BCATs potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Recent studies highlight their aberrant expression in cancers including gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, leukaemia, gliomas, and breast cancer, where they contribute to resistance to chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and endocrine therapy. Strategies targeting BCATs, including enzyme inhibitors, dietary BCAA restriction, and combination therapies, have shown the potential to overcome drug resistance and improve treatment outcomes. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the mechanisms of BCATs in cancer progression and resistance, providing a foundation for future research and clinical applications.