Decoding WDR5-Mediated Interactions in Gliomas: Implications for Targeted Therapy

Gliomas are aggressive and treatment-resistant tumors of the central nervous system, characterized by molecular heterogeneity, diffuse infiltration, rapid progression, and persistent poor prognosis despite multimodal therapy. Emerging evidence highlights the role of complex genetic changes (such as IDH1 and H3F3A mutations) and epigenetic interactions in reshaping chromatin structure and activity in gliomas, increasing their reliance on epigenetic regulators for their growth and resistance. The nuclear scaffolding protein WD repeat domain 5 (WDR5), is a core component of the MLL/SET1 (WRAD) methyltransferase complex, which has been recently validated as a molecular target for cancer. WDR5 implication in H3K4 trimethylation (H3K4me3)-mediated gene regulation sustains transcriptional programs linked to proliferation, ribosome biogenesis, stemness, and MYC-driven oncogenic activity. In gliomas, WDR5 expression is increased, promoting proliferation and migration, as well as maintaining the glioma stem cell population, contributing to tumor progression. Targeting of WDR5 through specific WIN-site and WBM-site inhibitors or PROTAC degraders has been shown to impair WRAD assembly, reduce H3K4me3 levels, weaken MYC-associated transcription, and suppress tumor growth. In this review, we highlight the significant role of WDR5 in gliomas as part of a tumor-specific epigenetic vulnerability network, providing a critical update on the major WDR5-targeted inhibitors and degraders for future therapeutic applications.