Targeting the FBXW7-AKAP13-YAP axis suppresses gliomagenesis by dual inhibition of tumor invasion and macrophage recruitment

Glioma, a highly lethal and common malignant tumor of the central nervous system, is characterized by its aggressive invasive behavior. Tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) represent the most abundant infiltrating immune cell population in the glioma microenvironment and play a critical role in gliomagenesis and progression. Although A-kinase anchoring protein 13 (AKAP13) has been implicated in other cancers, its specific role in glioma progression and TAM infiltration remains unclear. In this study, we identify AKAP13 is significantly upregulated in glioma tissues and associated with poor patient survival. Functionally, AKAP13 silencing inhibited glioma cell invasion and TAM recruitment in both in vitro and in vivo models. Mechanistically, AKAP13 drives tumor progression by enhancing YAP expression and nuclear translocation, which subsequently upregulates the TAM-recruiting chemokines CSF1 and CCL2. We further identified F-box and WD repeat domain-containing 7 (FBXW7) as an upstream regulator that promotes ubiquitin-mediated degradation of AKAP13. Together, our findings reveal a novel FBXW7/AKAP13/YAP/chemokine signaling axis that promotes glioma pathogenesis through both tumor-autonomous invasion and TAM recruitment, highlighting a promising therapeutic target for this lethal malignancy.