Glial tumors progress to malignant grades by heightened proliferation and relentless dispersion throughout the central nervous system. Understanding genetic and biochemical processes that foster these behaviors is likely to reveal specific and effective targets for therapeutic intervention. Our current report shows that the fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily, is expressed at high levels in migrating glioma cells in vitro and invading glioma cells in vivo. Forced Fn14 overexpression stimulates glioma cell migration and invasion, and depletion of Rac1 by small interfering RNA inhibits this cellular response. Activation of Fn14 signaling by the ligand TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) stimulates migration and up-regulates expression of Fn14; this TWEAK effect requires Rac1 and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity. The Fn14 promoter region contains NF-kappaB binding sites, which mediate positive feedback causing sustained overexpression of Fn14 and enduring glioma cell invasion. Furthermore, Fn14 gene expression levels increase with glioma grade and inversely correlate with patient survival. These results show that the Fn14 cascade operates as a positive feedback mechanism for elevated and sustained Fn14 expression. Such a feedback loop argues for aggressive targeting of the Fn14 axis as a unique and specific driver of glioma malignant behavior.
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science
2
3%
Immunology and Microbiology
2
3%
Other
8
11%
Unknown
19
26%
Attention Score in Context
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 12. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 25 August 2026.
All research outputs
#2,559,731
of 23,485,204 outputs
Outputs from Cancer Research
#1,996
of 18,135 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#5,182
of 68,493 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Cancer Research
#16
of 207 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 23,485,204 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done well and is in the 88th percentile: it's in the top 25% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 18,135 research outputs from this source. They typically receive more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 8.9. This one has done well, scoring higher than 87% of its peers.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 68,493 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 91% of its contemporaries.
We're also able to compare this research output to 207 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has done well, scoring higher than 89% of its contemporaries.
