Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42546137›Full record

ArticleDrug development research2026

GRP78 Drives NSCLC Stemness and EMT via a SIX1/β-Catenin Signaling Axis.

Guoping Tong, Huanyu Qi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Drug development research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Guoping TongDepartment of Respiratory and Tumor Internal Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Hospital Shanxi Hospital, Shanxi Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, China.
Huanyu QiDepartment of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Hospital Shanxi Hospital, Shanxi Cancer Hospital, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1653-1997

Funding

Shanxi Cancer Hospital
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) exhibits stem-like characteristics that drive tumor aggressiveness and treatment resistance. The molecular chaperone Glucose-Regulated Protein 78 (GRP78) is substantially elevated in NSCLC compared to normal tissues and cell lines. In clinical samples, GRP78 protein levels correlated with advanced tumor stage and lymph node metastasis. Pharmacological inhibition of GRP78 using BAPTA-AM and GRP78-IN-3 significantly suppressed NSCLC cell viability while promoting apoptosis. The inhibitors effectively attenuated cell migration by downregulating matrix metalloproteinases and reversed epithelial-mesenchymal transition by modulating key cadherin expression profiles. Importantly, GRP78 inhibition substantially reduced cancer stem cell markers and impaired spheroid formation capability. Genetic knockdown of GRP78 in A549 and H1975 cells recapitulated the effects of pharmacological inhibition, reducing cell migration, reversing EMT, attenuating stemness, and suppressing β-catenin signaling. Conversely, GRP78 overexpression in A549 and H1975 cells induced opposite effects, promoting mesenchymal markers, enhancing stemness proteins, and increasing spheroid size. Mechanistic studies revealed that this anti-tumor activity operates through suppression of β-catenin signaling mediated by SIX1, as evidenced by SIX1-overexpression rescue experiments. These findings demonstrate that GRP78 acts as a key regulator of NSCLC stemness and metastatic potential by coordinating epithelial plasticity and stemness pathways, positioning it as a promising therapeutic target for NSCLC treatment.

Indexed as

beta CateninCarcinoma, Non-Small-Cell LungEpithelial-Mesenchymal TransitionHeat-Shock ProteinsHomeodomain ProteinsLung NeoplasmsNeoplastic Stem CellsApoptosisCell Line, TumorCell MovementEndoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiPHumansSignal Transductionbeta CateninCTNNB1 protein, humanEndoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiPHeat-Shock ProteinsHomeodomain ProteinsHSPA5 protein, humanEMTGRP78NSCLCSIX1stemnessβ‐catenin

Identifiers

PMID42546137
PMCPMC13432796

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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.