We showed that abnormal accumulation of fumarate leads to epigenetic alterations eliciting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and is associated with aggressive tumour features. This showcased for the first time fumarate as an oncometabolite.

Reference

Sciacovelli, Marco, Emanuel Gonçalves, Timothy Isaac Johnson, Vincent Roberto Zecchini, Ana Sofia Henriques da Costa, Edoardo Gaude, Alizee Vercauteren Drubbel, et al. 2016. “Fumarate Is an Epigenetic Modifier That Elicits Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition.” Nature 537 (7621): 544–47.