Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40066850›Full record

ArticleCancer research communications2025

Branched-Chain Amino Acid Catabolism Promotes Ovarian Cancer Cell Proliferation via Phosphorylation of mTOR.

Hannah J Lusk, Monica A Haughan, Tova M Bergsten, Joanna E Burdette, Laura M Sanchez

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancer research communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Two Faces of Greater Omentum.Comprehensive physiology · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Hannah J LuskDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California.ORCID 0000-0001-7379-6909
Monica A HaughanDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.ORCID 0009-0006-8581-2332
Tova M BergstenDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.ORCID 0000-0003-4528-4003
Joanna E BurdetteDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.ORCID 0000-0002-7271-6847
Laura M SanchezDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California.ORCID 0000-0001-9223-7977

Funding

Imaging mass spectrometry methodologies for studying the metabolites of cancer metastasisR01CA240423 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · PI BURDETTE, JOANNA E, SANCHEZ, LAURA MARGARET · 2020 to 2024
$2.1M
Regulation of primary metastasis in high grade serous ovarian cancerF30CA260791 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · PI BERGSTEN, TOVA · 2021 to 2024
$209k
NCI NIH HHS F30 CA260791NCI NIH HHS R01 CA240423
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

abstractOvarian cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related mortality among individuals with ovaries, and high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most common and lethal subtype. Characterized by a distinct and aggressive metastatic pattern, HGSOC can originate in the fallopian tube with the transformation of fallopian tube epithelial (FTE) cells, which metastasize to the ovary and subsequently to the omentum and peritoneal cavity. The omentum is a privileged metastatic site, and the metabolic exchange underlying omental metastasis could provide enzyme or receptor targets to block spread. In this study, we adapted a mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) protocol to investigate spatial location of three-dimensional cocultures of tumorigenic FTE cells when grown in proximity to murine omental explants as a model of early metastatic colonization. Our analysis revealed several altered metabolites in tumorigenic FTE/omentum cocultures, namely changes in branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), including valine. We quantified the heightened consumption of valine, other BCAAs, and other amino acid–derived metabolites in omental cocultures using LC/MS assays. Our analysis revealed that metabolite concentrations when monitored with MSI from cell culture media in living culture systems have notable considerations for production of signatures by MSI data that induce ionization suppression. Supplementation with valine enhanced proliferation and mTOR signaling in tumorigenic FTE cells, suggesting the potential of BCAAs as a nutrient utilized by tumor cells during omental colonization and a possible target for metastasis. SIGNIFICANCE: This study uncovers altered amino acid metabolism, specifically increased BCAA catabolism, at the interface of ovarian cancer cells and omental tissue in a coculture model of HGSOC secondary metastasis. Enhanced BCAA catabolism promotes cancer cell proliferation through mTOR signaling, presenting potential therapeutic value. These findings deepen our understanding of HGSOC pathogenesis and the metastatic tumor microenvironment, offering insights for developing new treatment strategies.

Indexed as

Amino Acids, Branched-ChainOvarian NeoplasmsTOR Serine-Threonine KinasesAnimalsCell Line, TumorCell ProliferationFemaleHumansMicePhosphorylationSignal TransductionTumor MicroenvironmentAmino Acids, Branched-ChainMTOR protein, humanTOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

Identifiers

PMID40066850
PMCPMC11973964

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.