A protein that may help glioblastoma cells grow
Original title: Stanniocalcin 1 contributes to glioma stem cells phenotypic plasticity through NOTCH1/STAT3/GFPT2 axis.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was done on cells in a lab, not in people. It is a very early step.
This was lab work on cells, not a test in people.
The short version
Lab work points to a protein that may help brain tumor cells grow and spread.
What was studied. Researchers studied glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells. Those are the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are given a grade from 1 to 4. The grade says how the tumor is expected to act. See the glossary stem cells, a cell type that drives glioblastoma: A glioma that is given grade 4. Grade 4 is the highest grade there is. The tumor grows fast. Treatment usually starts soon after it is found. It often means surgery, and then radiation and chemotherapy. See the glossary. They used gene testing and lab experiments to look at a protein called STC1.
What they found. STC1 showed up at high levels in these tumor cells. Cells with more STC1 grew, moved, and invaded more in lab tests. When the team turned STC1 down, those effects got weaker. High STC1 levels were also linked to a worse outlook for patients.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: If STC1 can be blocked, it might one day be a way to slow glioblastoma: A glioma that is given grade 4. Grade 4 is the highest grade there is. The tumor grows fast. Treatment usually starts soon after it is found. It often means surgery, and then radiation and chemotherapy. See the glossary. Right now it is a clue for scientists to follow, not a treatment choice.
What it doesn't mean: This does not mean a new treatment is available. The work was done in lab cells, not in a trial of people. No one has shown it helps patients live longer. It is not a cure, and it is a long way from everyday care.
Source: PubMed, August 29, 2026 · Read the original
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