CD47 stabilizes ROBO2 to regulate glioblastoma progression by preventing ITCH-mediated ubiquitination

R Ruhi Polara (Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology) B Briony L. Gliddon (Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology) R Raja Ganesan (Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology) L Lorena T. Davies (Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology) J John Toubia (Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology) S Sakthi Lenin (Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology) G Ghizal Siddiqui (Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville Campus) O Olivia Morris-Hanon (Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology) M Melinda N. Tea (Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology) P Paul A. B. Moretti (Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology) D Dung A. Nguyen (Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology) C Chung Hoow Kok (Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology) C Chloe Shard (Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology) A Alexander H. Staudacher (Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology) M Michael P. Brown (Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology) D Darren J. Creek (Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville Campus) G Guillermo A. Gomez (Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology) D Daniel Thomas (School of Medicine, College of Health, Adelaide University) S Stuart M. Pitson (Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology) N Nirmal Robinson (Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology)

Abstract

CD47 is an innate immune checkpoint that inhibits phagocytosis by myeloid cells, contributing to immune evasion by cancer cells. CD47-blocking antibodies have limited efficacy in glioblastoma (GBM), and the cell-intrinsic role of CD47 is poorly understood. In this study, we show that CD47 is highly expressed at the invasive edge of GBM tumors, and its elevated expression correlates with poor patient survival. We demonstrate that CD47 loss impairs GBM cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, independent of immune activity, and leads to reduced tumor burden and prolonged survival in vivo. Our study identifies ROBO2 signaling as a key downstream effector of CD47 and demonstrates that loss of ROBO2 similarly reduces GBM cell proliferation and migration. Importantly, we have uncovered that CD47 stabilizes ROBO2 by sequestering the E3 ubiquitin ligase ITCH, thereby blocking ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of ROBO2. These findings establish CD47 as a key regulator of GBM cell plasticity and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting CD47 – ROBO2 signaling in GBM.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 13
Published March 31, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (20)

R

Ruhi Polara

Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology

B

Briony L. Gliddon

Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology

R

Raja Ganesan

Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology

L

Lorena T. Davies

Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology

J

John Toubia

Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology

S

Sakthi Lenin

Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology

G

Ghizal Siddiqui

Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville Campus

O

Olivia Morris-Hanon

Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology

M

Melinda N. Tea

Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology

P

Paul A. B. Moretti

Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology

D

Dung A. Nguyen

Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology

C

Chung Hoow Kok

Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology

C

Chloe Shard

Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology

A

Alexander H. Staudacher

Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology

M

Michael P. Brown

Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology

D

Darren J. Creek

Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville Campus

G

Guillermo A. Gomez

Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology

D

Daniel Thomas

School of Medicine, College of Health, Adelaide University

S

Stuart M. Pitson

Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology

N

Nirmal Robinson

Centre for Cancer Biology, College of Health, Adelaide University and SA Pathology