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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 7, 2026; 32(13): 115536
Published online Apr 7, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i13.115536
Published online Apr 7, 2026. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v32.i13.115536
Reprogramming of amino acid metabolism in cholangiocarcinoma: A potential target for metabolic-targeted therapy
Kullanat Khawkhiaw, Worachart Lert-Itthiporn, Charupong Saengboonmee, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Kullanat Khawkhiaw, Worachart Lert-Itthiporn, Charupong Saengboonmee, Center for Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Kullanat Khawkhiaw, Worachart Lert-Itthiporn, Charupong Saengboonmee, Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Naisana Seyedasli, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia
Naisana Seyedasli, Centre for Cancer Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney 2145, New South Wales, Australia
Ching-Feng Chiu, Graduate Institute of Obesity and Metabolism Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, Taiwan
Author contributions: Khawkhiaw K and Saengboonmee C conceptualized, reviewed, outlined, and wrote the first draft of the manuscript; Lert-Itthiporn W, Seyedasli N, and Chiu CF reviewed, supervised, and edited the manuscript; and all authors approved the final version of the manuscript.
Supported by Mekong - Lancang Cooperation Special Fund; and the Development and Promotion of Science and Technology Talents Project, Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology of Thailand.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare that they do not have any conflicts of interest.
Corresponding author: Charupong Saengboonmee, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, 123 Mittraphap Highway, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand. charusa@kku.ac.th
Received: October 20, 2025
Revised: December 25, 2025
Accepted: February 9, 2026
Published online: April 7, 2026
Processing time: 159 Days and 9.5 Hours
Revised: December 25, 2025
Accepted: February 9, 2026
Published online: April 7, 2026
Processing time: 159 Days and 9.5 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Metabolic reprogramming is a malignant hallmark found in many types of cancer, including cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). A higher requirement and dependency of certain amino acids is found in CCA and is generally associated with aggressive phenotypes of cancer cells, leading to poor prognosis of patients. In this article, amino acids with reports of their significance in CCA development and progression are reviewed. The mechanisms underlying amino acid metabolic repro