Gene expression data relating to the invasion-associated proteins ITGA5 (integrin α5), CD97, and ANXA1 (annexin A1) showed prognostic significance in independent GBM cohorts.
Given its proven roles in tumor invasion, expression among aggressive genetic subtypes of GBM, and association with overall survival, CD97 is an attractive therapeutic target for patients with GBM.
The authors suggest that further research into WT1 and CD97 will allow clinicians to begin to deal more effectively with the infiltrative behavior displayed by GBM and design new therapies that target this deadly disease.
Of these, CD97 expression was consistently suppressed across the 3 different GBM cell lines studied and was found on further investigation to significantly impact GBM cell invasiveness.