Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42086718›Full record

ArticleCommunications biology2026

Targeting the IRE1α-XBP1 signaling axis impairs tumor growth and promotes myogenic differentiation in rhabdomyosarcoma.

Anh Tuan Vuong, Aniket S Joshi, Phuong T Ho, Meiricris Tomaz da Silva, Bin Guo, Meghana V Trivedi, Ashok Kumar

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Communications biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Anh Tuan VuongInstitute of Muscle Biology and Cachexia, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5162-1953
Aniket S JoshiInstitute of Muscle Biology and Cachexia, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1595-5945
Phuong T HoInstitute of Muscle Biology and Cachexia, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX, USA.
Meiricris Tomaz da SilvaInstitute of Muscle Biology and Cachexia, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7479-2595
Bin GuoInstitute of Muscle Biology and Cachexia, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX, USA.
Meghana V TrivediInstitute of Muscle Biology and Cachexia, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX, USA.
Ashok KumarInstitute of Muscle Biology and Cachexia, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX, USA. akumar43@Central.UH.EDU.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8571-2848

Funding

TWEAK/Fn14/UPR Signaling in Skeletal Muscle WastingR01AR081487 · NIAMS · UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON · PI ASHOK KUMAR · 2023 to 2026
$2.1M
TAK1 signaling in Rhabdomyosarcoma tumorigenesis and growthR01CA294365 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON · PI ASHOK KUMAR, Benny Abraham Kaipparettu · 2025 to 2026
$1.3M
NCI NIH HHS R01 CA294365NIAMS NIH HHS R01 AR081487U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Cancer Institute (NCI) CA294365U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) AR081487
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a pediatric soft-tissue sarcoma arising from mesenchymal progenitors with skeletal muscle features. The unfolded protein response (UPR) maintains proteostasis during endoplasmic reticulum stress, with the IRE1α-XBP1 axis representing a key signaling branch. Here, we demonstrate that components of this pathway are significantly upregulated in RMS cell lines and primary tumors. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of IRE1α or spliced XBP1 (sXBP1) suppresses cell proliferation, promotes terminal myogenic differentiation, and enhances vincristine-induced cytotoxicity in RMS cells. Silencing of sXBP1 further reduces the cancer stem-like cell population and impairs migration and invasion. Mechanistically, IRE1α-XBP1 signaling promotes RMS progression through sXBP1-dependent upregulation of BMPR1A and subsequent activation of BMP-SMAD1 signaling. Consistently, inducible knockdown of sXBP1 or pharmacological inhibition of IRE1α endonuclease activity significantly attenuates xenograft RMS growth. Collectively, these findings identify the IRE1α-XBP1 axis as a critical regulator of RMS growth, differentiation, and chemosensitivity, and support its therapeutic targeting in RMS.

Indexed as

Cell DifferentiationEndoribonucleasesMuscle DevelopmentProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesRhabdomyosarcomaSignal TransductionX-Box Binding Protein 1AnimalsCell Line, TumorCell ProliferationGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansMiceEndoribonucleasesERN1 protein, humanProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesX-Box Binding Protein 1XBP1 protein, humanXbp1 protein, mouse

Identifiers

PMID42086718
PMCPMC13351075

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.