KCNA1 promotes the growth and invasion of glioblastoma cells through ferroptosis inhibition via upregulating SLC7A11

Abstract Background The high invasiveness and infiltrative nature of Glioblastoma (GBM) pose significant challenges for surgical removal. This study aimed to investigate the role of KCNA1 in GBM progression. Methods CCK8, colony formation assay, scratch assay, transwell assay, and 3D tumor spheroid invasion assays were to determine how KCNA1 affects the growth and invasion of GBM cells. Subsequently, to confirm the impact of KCNA1 in ferroptosis, western blot, transmission electron microscopy and flow cytometry were conducted. To ascertain the impact of KCNA1 in vivo, patient-derived orthotopic xenograft models were established. Results In functional assays, KCNA1 promotes the growth and invasion of GBM cells. Besides, KCNA1 can increase the expression of SLC7A11 and protect cells from ferroptosis. The vivo experiments demonstrated that knocking down KCNA1 inhibited the growth and infiltration of primary tumors in mice and extended survival time. Conclusion Therefore, our research suggests that KCNA1 may promote tumor growth and invasion by upregulating the expression of SLC7A11 and inhibiting ferroptosis, making it a promising therapeutic target for GBM.