Elevation of CXCL1 indicates poor prognosis and radioresistance by inducing mesenchymal transition in glioblastoma

Abstract

Introduction: Glioblastoma (GBM) is identified as a lethal malignant tumor derived from the nervous system. Despite the standard clinical strategy including maximum surgical resection, temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the median survival of GBM patients remains <15 months. Accumulating evidence indicates that rapid-acquired radioresistance is one of the most common reasons for GBM recurrence. Therefore, developing novel therapeutic targets for radioresistant GBM could yield long-term cures.

Aims: To investigate the functional role of CXCL1 in the acquired radioresistance and identify the molecular pathway correlated to CXCL1.

Results: In this study, we identified that CXCL1 is highly expressed in GBM and the elevation of CXCL1 is involved in radioresistance and poor prognosis in GBM patients. Additionally, silencing CXCL1 attenuated the proliferation and radioresistance of GBM cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CXCL1-overexpression induced radioresistance through mesenchymal transition of GBM via the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling.

Conclusion: CXCL1 was highly enriched in GBM and positively correlated with poor prognosis in GBM patients. Additionally, elevated CXCL1 induced radioresistance in GBM through regulation of NF-κB signaling by promoting mesenchymal transition in GBM.

Keywords: CXCL1; NF-κB; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; glioblastoma; radioresistance.