ADAMTS1 as potential prognostic biomarker promotes malignant invasion of glioma

Glioma is the most common intracranial malignancy in adults with a high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis, which is largely attributed to the existence of glioma stem cells (GSCs). Previous evidence indicated that the matrix metalloproteinase ADAMTS1 was implicated in the process of tumor invasion, but the involvement of ADAMTS1 in glioma malignant invasion remains poorly understood.

The expression and prognosis values of ADAMTS1 were investigated in patients with glioma based on ONCOMINE and GEPIA databases. ADAMTS1 expression of different malignancy grade tissues was determined by immunohistochemistry. The effects of ADAMTS1 on cell proliferation and invasion were determined by clone formation assay and Transwell migration assay. The animal experiment was performed in an intracranial orthotopic xenograft model by knockout of ADAMTS1. Stemness properties and Notch1-SOX2 pathway were examined in stable ADAMTS1 knockdown GSCs.

The expression levels of ADAMTS1 were significantly higher in glioma tissues and significantly correlated with the grade of malignancy and prognosis of glioma. Elevated ADAMTS1 expression was associated with SOX2, N-cadherin and the resistance of chemoradiotherapy of glioma patients. ADAMTS1 knockout suppressed the intracranial orthotopic xenograft growth and prolonged the survival of xenograft mice in vivo. Mechanistically, we found a blockade of the migration and invasiveness of GSCs and the expression levels of Notch1 and SOX2 in absence of ADAMTS1.

As a biomarker for prediction of prognosis, ADAMTS1 may affect the invasive phenotype of GSCs by regulating Notch1-SOX2 signaling pathway, thereby promoting the invasive growth of glioma.