Targeting WTAP/ROR1/WNT5A‐Mediated Crosstalk Between Glioma Stem Cells and Macrophages to Normalize Tumor Vasculature and Enhance Chemotherapy

Glioma stem cells (GSCs) can trans-differentiate into glioma-derived endothelial cells (GDECs), contributing to glioblastoma progression and therapy resistance. The molecular basis underpinning GSC-GDEC differentiation remain incompletely elucidated. Here, ROR1 is identified as a key regulator of GSC-to-GDEC differentiation under hypoxia. ROR1 expression is elevated in GDECs across patient-derived cells, xenografts, and tumor samples, confirmed by single-cell multiomics, Western blotting, and multiplex staining. Mechanistically, WNT5A, secreted by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) under hypoxia, activates ROR1-mediated Wingless-type MMTV integration site family (WNT) signaling in GSCs, promoting GDEC formation. Interestingly, hypoxia-induced WTAP not only enhances ROR1 stability through m<sup>6</sup>A modification in a HuR-dependent manner, but also contributes to WNT5A+TAMs infiltration. Clinically, high ROR1 and WNT5A expression correlates with poor glioblastoma prognosis, and WNT5A may serve as a circulating biomarker. Therapeutically, targeting ROR1 via endothelial-specific Adno-Associated Virus (AAV) knockdown or the antibody-drug conjugate Zilovertamab vedotin (VLS-101) normalizes vasculature, improves temozolomide delivery, and sensitizes tumors in glioblastoma organoids and xenografts. These findings highlight the ROR1-WNT5A axis as a promising target in glioblastomas treatment.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Science
Published
2026-01-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202520661
Primary Topic
Immune cells in cancer
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Targeting WTAP/ROR1/WNT5A‐Mediated Crosstalk Between Glioma Stem Cells and Macrophages to Normalize Tumor Vasculature and Enhance Chemotherapy

H Chen, Jiawei Cai, Jiangwei Wang, B Pang et al.
Advanced Science
Immune cells in cancer
article

Targeting WTAP/ROR1/WNT5A‐Mediated Crosstalk Between Glioma Stem Cells and Macrophages to Normalize Tumor Vasculature and Enhance Chemotherapy

H Chen, Jiawei Cai, Jiangwei Wang, B Pang, Yun Liu, Yuzhou Chang, Lanhui Zheng, Yingxuan Sun, Xiaoyong Chen, Zanyi Wu, Dezhi Kang, Ruichao Chai, Tao Jiang, Haoyuan Sun, Qing Chang
article en

Abstract

Glioma stem cells (GSCs) can trans-differentiate into glioma-derived endothelial cells (GDECs), contributing to glioblastoma progression and therapy resistance. The molecular basis underpinning GSC-GDEC differentiation remain incompletely elucidated. Here, ROR1 is identified as a key regulator of GSC-to-GDEC differentiation under hypoxia. ROR1 expression is elevated in GDECs across patient-derived cells, xenografts, and tumor samples, confirmed by single-cell multiomics, Western blotting, and multiplex staining. Mechanistically, WNT5A, secreted by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) under hypoxia, activates ROR1-mediated Wingless-type MMTV integration site family (WNT) signaling in GSCs, promoting GDEC formation. Interestingly, hypoxia-induced WTAP not only enhances ROR1 stability through m<sup>6</sup>A modification in a HuR-dependent manner, but also contributes to WNT5A+TAMs infiltration. Clinically, high ROR1 and WNT5A expression correlates with poor glioblastoma prognosis, and WNT5A may serve as a circulating biomarker. Therapeutically, targeting ROR1 via endothelial-specific Adno-Associated Virus (AAV) knockdown or the antibody-drug conjugate Zilovertamab vedotin (VLS-101) normalizes vasculature, improves temozolomide delivery, and sensitizes tumors in glioblastoma organoids and xenografts. These findings highlight the ROR1-WNT5A axis as a promising target in glioblastomas treatment.

Advanced Science
Fujian Medical University (CN), Capital Medical University (CN), Dalian Medical University (CN), National Medical Products Administration (CN), Chinese National Human Genome Center (CN), Beijing Tian Tan Hospital (CN), Beijing Institute of Neurosurgery (CN), First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University (CN), Cells Therapy (Poland) (PL)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Beijing Municipal Health Commission, Fujian Medical University, National Science and Technology Major Project
Openalex Percentile: Top 83%
Immune cells in cancer
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