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.
Authors
- H Chen
- Jiawei Cai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0199-5225)
- Jiangwei Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1191-0782)
- B Pang
- Yun Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3681-4843)
- Yuzhou Chang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2198-3491)
- Lanhui Zheng
- Yingxuan Sun
- Xiaoyong Chen
- Zanyi Wu
- Dezhi Kang
- Ruichao Chai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3451-8871)
- Tao Jiang
- Haoyuan Sun
- Qing Chang
Institutions
- 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)
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
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Beijing Municipal Health Commission
- Fujian Medical University
- National Science and Technology Major Project