Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) lethality is largely driven by liver metastasis and the associated tumor microenvironment (TME). This study identifies ETS variant transcription factor 4 (ETV4) as a central integrator of oncogenic signaling, metabolism, and stromal remodeling. In CRC cells, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/MET signaling induces ETV4 via an ERK1/2–p65 pathway. ETV4, in turn, directly activates MET and asparagine synthetase (ASNS), creating a positive feedback loop that amplifies MET signaling and elevates intracellular asparagine (Asn). Tumor-derived Asn acts as a paracrine signal that induces inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblast (iCAF) like activation in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and promotes iCAF polarization in primary CAFs, leading to enhanced HGF secretion that further stimulates MET + tumor cells. Genetic and pharmacologic disruption of this axis attenuates CRC growth and metastatic traits in vitro and in mouse models. Notably, combined inhibition of HGF/MET signaling and Asn metabolism produces greater antitumor activity than either monotherapy. Together, these data delineate an HGF/MET → ETV4 → MET/ASNS → asparagine → iCAFs and iCAF-like HSCs → HGF circuit that links signal amplification, metabolic reprogramming, and niche conditioning, and provide a rationale for therapeutic strategies co‑targeting HGF/MET and Asn pathways in advanced CRC.