Progesterone Receptor Membrane Component 1 (PGRMC1) Modulates Tumour Progression, the Immune Microenvironment and the Response to Therapy in Glioblastoma

Progesterone Receptor Membrane Component 1 (PGRMC1) is a tumour-promoting factor in several types of cancer but its role in brain tumours is poorly characterized thus far. Our study aimed to determine the effect of PGRMC1 on glioblastoma (GBM) pathophysiology using two independent cohorts of IDH wild-type GBM patients and stable knockdown GBM models. We found that high levels of PGRMC1 significantly predicted poor overall survival in both cohorts of GBM patients. PGRMC1 promoted the proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, and invasion of GBM cells. We identified Integrin beta-1 (ITGB1) and TCF 1/7 as potential members of the PGRMC1 pathway in vitro. The levels of ITGB1 and PGRMC1 also correlated in neoplastic tissues from GBM patients. High expression of PGRMC1 rendered GBM cells less susceptible to the standard GBM chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide but more susceptible to the ferroptosis inducer erastin. Finally, PGRMC1 enhanced Interleukin-8 production in GBM cells and promoted the recruitment of neutrophils. The expression of PGRMC1 significantly correlated with the numbers of tumour-infiltrating neutrophils also in tissues from GBM patients. In conclusion, PGRMC1 enhances tumour-related inflammation and promotes the progression of GBM. However, PGRMC1 might be a promising target for novel therapeutic strategies using ferroptosis inducers in this type of cancer.