DERL3 exacerbates glioblastoma malignancy through endoplasmic reticulum stress-dependent mechanisms

Gliomas, particularly glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), represent the most prevalent primary intracranial malignancies, characterized by high invasiveness, aggressive proliferation, and poor clinical outcomes. Recent studies have highlighted the critical role of tumor microenvironment interactions and cellular stress responses, including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, in modulating glioma progression. While ER stress can induce autophagy and apoptosis, glioma cells exhibit remarkable plasticity, adapting to stress conditions and exploiting them to promote survival and self-renewal, thereby contributing to therapeutic resistance. In this study, we established an individualized ER stress risk score using glioma transcriptomic data, demonstrating its association with adverse prognosis, aggressive molecular subtypes, and pro-tumorigenic biological functions. Through systematic screening, we identified DERL3 as a core effector gene mediating ER stress adaptation. Functional validation revealed that DERL3 drove glioma proliferation and invasion by binding to and stabilizing Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (HNRNPA2B1), consequently activating the NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings elucidate the DERL3-HNRNPA2B1-NF-κB axis as a critical mechanistic link between ER stress adaptation and glioma malignancy. Targeting this axis may offer novel therapeutic strategies to overcome treatment resistance, providing significant translational potential for improving glioma management. This study advances our understanding of stress response mechanisms in tumorigenesis and underscores the clinical relevance of ER stress-related pathways in precision oncology.