EphA2, vascular endothelial growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor correlate with adverse outcomes and poor survival in patients with glioma

The Role of Progranulin (PGRN) in the Pathogenesis of Glioblastoma Multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) represents the most common and aggressive malignant form of brain tumour in adults and is characterized by an extremely poor prognosis with dismal survival rates. Currently, expanding concepts concerning the pathophysiology of GBM are inextricably linked with neuroinflammatory phenomena. On account of this fact, the identification of novel pathomechanisms targeting neuroinflammation seems to be crucial in terms of yielding successful individual therapeutic strategies. In recent years, the pleiotropic growth factor progranulin (PGRN) has attracted significant attention in the neuroscience and oncological community regarding its neuroimmunomodulatory and oncogenic functions. This review of the literature summarizes and updates contemporary knowledge about PGRN, its associated receptors and signalling pathway involvement in GBM pathogenesis, indicating possible cellular and molecular mechanisms with potential diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic targets in order to yield successful individual therapeutic strategies. After a review of the literature, we found that there are possible PGRN-targeted therapeutic approaches for implementation in GBM treatment algorithms both in preclinical and future clinical studies. Furthermore, PGRN-targeted therapies exerted their highest efficacy in combination with other established chemotherapeutic agents, such as temozolomide. The results of the analysis suggested that the possible implementation of routine determinations of PGRN and its associated receptors in tumour tissue and biofluids could serve as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of GBM. Furthermore, promising preclinical applications of PGRN-related findings should be investigated in clinical studies in order to create new diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms for GBM treatment.

Signals transduced by Eph receptors and ephrin ligands converge on MAP kinase and AKT pathways in human cancers

Eph receptors, the largest known family of receptor tyrosine kinases, and ephrin ligands have been implicated in a variety of human cancers. The novel bidirectional signaling events initiated by binding of Eph receptors to their cognate ephrin ligands modulate many cellular processes such as proliferation, metastasis, angiogenesis, invasion, and apoptosis. The relationships between the abundance of a unique subset of Eph receptors and ephrin ligands with associated cellular processes indicate a key role of these molecules in tumorigenesis. The combinatorial expression of these molecules converges on MAP kinase and/or AKT/mTOR signaling pathways. The intracellular target proteins of the initial signal may, however, vary in some cancers. Furthermore, we have also described the commonality of up- and down-regulation of individual receptors and ligands in various cancers. The current state of research in Eph receptors illustrates MAP kinase and mTOR pathways as plausible targets for therapeutic interventions in various cancers.

Integrative analysis reveals the functional implications and clinical relevance of pyroptosis in low-grade glioma

Using the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (training dataset) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (validation dataset), we found that low-grade gliomas can be divided into two molecular subclasses based on 30 pyroptosis genes. Cluster 1 presented higher immune cell and immune function scores and poorer prognosis than Cluster 2. We established a prognostic model based on 10 pyroptosis genes; the model could predict overall survival in glioma and was well validated in an independent dataset. The high-risk group had relatively higher immune cell and immune function scores and lower DNA methylation levels in pyroptosis genes than the low-risk group. There were no marked differences in pyroptosis gene alterations between the high- and low-risk groups. The competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network uncovered the lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA regulation patterns of the different risk groups in low-grade glioma. Five pairs of target genes and drugs were identified. In vitro, CASP8 silencing inhibited the migration and invasion of glioma cells. The expression of pyroptosis genes can reflect the molecular biological and clinical features of low-grade glioma subclasses. The developed prognostic model can predict overall survival and distinguish molecular alterations in patients. Our integrated analyses could provide valuable guidelines for improving risk management and therapy for low-grade glioma patients.