Organismal metabolism regulates the expansion of oncogenic PIK3CAmutant clones in normal esophagus

Oncogenic PIK3CAmutations generate large clones in aging human esophagus. Here we investigate the behavior of Pik3camutant clones in the normal esophageal epithelium of transgenic mice. Expression of a heterozygous Pik3caH1047Rmutation drives clonal expansion by tilting cell fate toward proliferation. CRISPR screening and inhibitor treatment of primary esophageal keratinocytes confirmed the PI3K–mTOR pathway increased mutant cell competitive fitness. The antidiabetic drug metformin reduced mutant cell advantage in vivo and in vitro. Conversely, metabolic conditions such as type 1 diabetes or diet-induced obesity enhanced the competitive fitness of Pik3caH1047Rcells. Consistently, we found a higher density of PIK3CAgain-of-function mutations in the esophagus of individuals with high body mass index compared with those with normal weight. We conclude that the metabolic environment selectively influences the evolution of the normal epithelial mutational landscape. Clinically feasible interventions to even out signaling imbalances between wild-type and mutant cells may limit the expansion of oncogenic mutants in normal tissues.