Press Release

Cleanascite™ Enables Breakthrough Cancer Study by Targeting Lipid-Driven Fibroblast Reprogramming

MONMOUTH JUNCTION, NJ, July 22, 2025 — Biotech Support Group (BSG) announces a pivotal role for its proprietary lipid removal reagent, Cleanascite™, in a newly published study in the Journal of Experimental Medicine exploring metabolic reprogramming in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and its impact on tumor progression.

In the article by Li, Xiaoyun et al., entitled “Tumor-instructed glutamine synthesis in cancer-associated fibroblasts promotes pro-tumor macrophages | Journal of Experimental Medicine | Rockefeller University Press”, researchers examined how tumor-derived lipids influence the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Utilizing BSG’s Cleanascite™, the investigators efficiently removed lipids from tumor cell-conditioned media (TCM), allowing them to study the lipid-specific effects on CAF behavior. The study reports “To generate TCM without lipids, the collected TCM … was treated with Cleanascite reagent (Biotech Support Group) according to the manufacturer’s instructions,”. 

Strikingly, the research found that fibroblasts treated with lipid-deprived TCM (TCM w.o. lipid) reduced the expression of genes involved in the glutamine synthesis pathway compared with fibroblasts exposed to lipid-containing TCM (Fig. 4 E). Similarly, IL-6 production was declined in fibroblasts treated with lipid-deprived TCM (Fig. 4 F). These results revealed that lipid-deprived TCM significantly altered fibroblast gene expression profiles, reducing markers of inflammatory CAFs (iCAFs), IL-6/STAT3 signaling, and glutamine synthesis pathways—key drivers of tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) polarization and immunosuppression.

This lipid-dependent reprogramming illustrates a novel axis through which tumors shape their microenvironment to facilitate immune evasion and growth, presenting potential therapeutic targets for cancer immunotherapy.

“These findings highlight the critical value of Cleanascite™ in advanced cancer biology research,” stated Dr. Swapan Roy, President and Founder of Biotech Support Group. “Unlike traditional solvent-based methods, Cleanascite™ provides an aqueous, cell-compatible solution, preserving cellular function and phenotypic integrity after removal of lipids. With such compatibility in live cell models, Cleanascite™ enables researchers to confidently dissect the complex roles of lipid metabolism in disease mechanisms.”

This work adds to the growing body of literature demonstrating Cleanascite™’s effectiveness in tumor microenvironment and immunometabolism research. It supports its use as a reliable, solvent-free lipid depletion tool, across disease models that require preservation of cell growth, signaling and function. 

For additional product details, visit:
Cleanascite™ Lipid Removal Reagent

About Biotech Support Group LLC
Biotech Support Group develops innovative sample preparation technologies that address the emerging needs of proteomics, biomarker discovery, and personalized medicine. Flagship products include Cleanascite™ for lipid removal, AlbuVoid™ and AlbuSorb™ PLUS for serum protein depletion, HemogloBind™ and HemoVoid™ for hemoglobin removal, and NRicher™ for low abundance, family specific, and targeted proteome enrichment. These products support translational research by simplifying workflows and improving sample quality for downstream analysis.

For Business Development Inquiries:
Matthew Kuruc
Phone: 732-274-2866
Email: mkuruc@biotechsupportgroup.com

Keywords: Cleanascite™, lipid depletion, cancer-associated fibroblasts, tumor microenvironment, tumor-associated macrophages, IL-6, glutamine synthesis, melanoma, Biotech Support Group