BCAT1 and neoplasm: Pancreatic ductal cancer (PDAC)-induces branch chain amino acid transaminase 1 (BCAT1) in CAFs which govern internalization of the extracellular matrix from the tumor microenvironment to supply amino-acid precursors for branched-chain α-ketoacid (BCKA). BCKA secretion by CAF are utilized by PDCA for protein synthesis and oxidative phosphorylation (169).