TCAF2 is associated with the immune microenvironment, promotes pathogenesis, and impairs prognosis in glioma.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Glioma is the most common primary intracranial tumor and exhibits rapid growth and aggressiveness. TRPM8 channel-associated factor 2 (TCAF2), located in cell junctions and the plasma membrane, plays a key role in the pathogeneses of several cancers in humans. However, the role of TCAF2 in glioma has been elusive. METHODS: A combination of bioinformatic analysis using The Cancer Genome Atlas database and biological experiments, including 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, transwell, and immunohistochemistry assays and xenotransplantation, was performed to analyze the expression level of TCAF2 and to mechanistically explore the relationship of TCAF2 with malignancy, prognosis, and the immune microenvironment in glioma. RESULTS: TCAF2 was upregulated in glioma, and its expression level correlated with tumor grade and clinical outcome. The role of TCAF2 in promoting glioma malignancy was characterized through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Additionally, we observed that TCAF2 can modulate the metabolic pathways and immune microenvironment. CONCLUSION: TCAF2 acts as an oncogene and may serve as a therapeutic target and prognostic marker in glioma.