Stromal asparagine supports tumor adaptation to oxidative phosphorylation inhibition through SLC38A4-mediated metabolic coupling
Ziyi Qin, Shengxi Li, Yeting Xu, Jiaming Zou, Jinyang Ma, Yingying Wang, Yucheng Wang, Rui Jü, Lin Wang, Lei Guo
This study identifies asparagine (ASN) as a critical metabolite supplied by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells under oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) inhibition, revealing SLC38A4 as a mediator of metabolic coupling that supports tumor adaptation.
bioRxiv · Mar 18, 2026 · PreprintCancer Biology