Here, we show that IL-4, which activates Stat6 in normal human astrocytes and in a variety of other cells, induces an aberrant activation of Stat3 in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells but not in normal human astrocytes.
GG genotype of STAT64610A/G was a significant risk factor compared with AA in glioblastoma (adjusted OR=1.856, 95%CI=1.153-2.987, p=0.011, corrected p=0.044).
Lastly, a genome-wide expression microarray analysis was performed to compare gene expression in wild-type GBM cells to expression in stable STAT6 knockdown clones.
Here, we have shown that STAT6 is epigenetically silenced in some cases of malignant glioblastoma, which facilitates cancer cell survival in a hypoxic microenvironment.