Description
The Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) is a central mediator of oncogenic signaling, yet its subclass specific relevance in glioblastoma (GBM) has not been fully defined. In a malignancy characterized by marked molecular heterogeneity and therapeutic resistance, resolving the contextual role of IGF1R is critical. We analyzed IGF1R transcriptional profiles across 422 GBM specimens using integrative bioinformatic platforms to determine expression patterns and prognostic significance within established molecular subclasses.
IGF1R expression demonstrated clear subtype selectivity. It was significantly elevated in the Classical and Proneural subclasses, whereas the Neural subtype exhibited comparatively low expression. Survival analyses stratified by expression quartiles revealed an unexpected finding. Within the Proneural subclass, patients in the highest IGF1R expression quartile showed improved long-term survival. This observation suggests that increased IGF1R expression does not uniformly confer adverse prognosis and may reflect distinct biological constraints within specific molecular contexts.
Protein interaction modeling further supported functional relevance, demonstrating strong connectivity between IGF1R and core regulators of PI3K AKT and MAPK ERK signaling pathways. Collectively, these findings position IGF1R as a subclass dependent biomarker with therapeutic and prognostic implications in glioblastoma.