Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41656395›Full record

ArticleFunctional & integrative genomics2026

The BCAA metabolism-related gene BCAT1 promotes the progression of bladder urothelial carcinoma through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway.

Shiyong Xin, Guanyu Li, Le Zhao, Junjie Su, Ruixin Li, Wang Qin, Zheng Zhang, Chu Wang, Yingao Zhu, Liming Feng and 1 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Functional & integrative genomics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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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

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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

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Shiyong XinDepartment of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, No.636, Guan-lin Rd, Luo-long District, Luoyang, 471000, China. doctsyxin@163.com.
Guanyu LiDepartment of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, No.636, Guan-lin Rd, Luo-long District, Luoyang, 471000, China.
Le ZhaoDepartment of Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, No.636, Guan-lin Rd, 471000, Luo-long District, Luoyang, China.
Junjie SuDepartment of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, No.636, Guan-lin Rd, Luo-long District, Luoyang, 471000, China.
Ruixin LiDepartment of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, No.636, Guan-lin Rd, Luo-long District, Luoyang, 471000, China.
Wang QinDepartment of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, No.636, Guan-lin Rd, Luo-long District, Luoyang, 471000, China.
Zheng ZhangDepartment of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, No.636, Guan-lin Rd, Luo-long District, Luoyang, 471000, China.
Chu WangDepartment of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, No.636, Guan-lin Rd, Luo-long District, Luoyang, 471000, China.
Yingao ZhuDepartment of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, No.636, Guan-lin Rd, Luo-long District, Luoyang, 471000, China.
Liming FengDepartment of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, No.636, Guan-lin Rd, Luo-long District, Luoyang, 471000, China.
Zhongwei GaoDepartment of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, No.636, Guan-lin Rd, Luo-long District, Luoyang, 471000, China.

Funding

Medical Science and Technology project of Henan Province LHGJ20230460
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The role and molecular mechanisms of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism in bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) have not been fully elucidated. In this study, genes associated with BCAA metabolism were identified and analysed. Based on the TCGA-BLCA dataset, BCAA metabolism-related clusters were established. The analysis revealed significant differences among clusters in terms of survival outcomes, biological functions, and immune infiltration. Hub genes were identified using Cox and LASSO regression analyses, leading to the construction of a four-gene prognostic model that included BCAT1. Patients were categorised into high- and low-risk groups, with the high-risk group showing a markedly higher risk of mortality. Key module genes were determined through weighted gene coexpression network analysis, and BCAT1 was ultimately identified as the core gene involved in BCAA metabolism. High BCAT1 expression was strongly associated with poor prognosis. Single-cell RNA sequencing data revealed that BCAT1 was highly expressed in malignant epithelial cells and correlated with the immune microenvironment. Experimental validation demonstrated that BCAA uptake and metabolism were enhanced in BLCA and that BCAT1 upregulation promoted tumour progression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Molecular docking and virtual screening further identified folic acid as a compound capable of binding to the BCAT1 protein and inhibiting the migration and invasion of BLCA cells. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that BCAT1 plays a pivotal role in BLCA progression by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, suggesting its potential as a novel therapeutic target for BLCA.

Indexed as

Amino Acids, Branched-ChainTransaminasesUrinary Bladder NeoplasmsCell Line, TumorDisease ProgressionGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktSignal TransductionTOR Serine-Threonine KinasesAmino Acids, Branched-ChainBCAT1 protein, humanMTOR protein, humanPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktTOR Serine-Threonine KinasesTransaminasesBCAT1Bladder urothelial carcinomaBranched-chain amino acid metabolismMolecular dockingRisk model

Identifiers

PMID41656395

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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.