Glioblastoma Stem Cells: MAP17 as a Novel Predictive Biomarker and Therapeutic Target Associated with Quiescence and Immune Evasion.

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the deadliest and most heterogeneous forms of brain cancer, characterized by its resistance to conventional therapies. Within GBM, a subpopulation of slow-cycling cells, often linked to quiescence and stemness, plays a crucial role in treatment resistance and tumor recurrence. This study aimed to identify novel biomarkers associated with these slow-cycling GBM cells.

Methods: We utilized The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-GBM dataset and presented the reproducible bioinformatics analysis for our results.

Results: Our analysis highlighted Membrane-Associated Protein 17 (MAP17) as strongly associated with the slow-cycling phenotype. We found that the protein cargo MAP17 expression is related to mesenchymal signatures and stem cell-related pathways. Also, MAP17 was linked to a distinct metabolic profile, characterized by significant enrichment in pathways related to folate, zinc, and fatty acids. Moreover, the immune cell distribution analysis revealed that MAP17 correlates with key molecular immune processes, including interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) signaling and antigen presentation, as well as immunosuppressive cells like myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and macrophages. MAP17-high tumors also showed elevated expression of several immune checkpoint inhibitors, indicating an immunosuppressive microenvironment.

Conclusion: These findings provide insight into the role of MAP17 in quiescence, stemness, and immune evasion, positioning it as a promising therapeutic target.