Compartmentalized branched-chain amino acid metabolism orchestrates colorectal cancer dissemination via an UMP-vimentin axis

. UMP binds to vimentin and protects it against ubiquitination-proteasome degradation. Dietary BCAA restriction or blockade of UMP biosynthesis impaired cancer spread of BCAT1-high CRC, and BCAT1-to-BCAT2 expression ratio is an independent prognostic factor in CRC and pan-cancer cohorts, highlighting translational relevance of BCAA metabolic compartmentalization in cancer metastasis.