Baseline RNA-sequencing data of 12 glioblastoma stem cell lines sensitive or resistant to TAK1 inhibition

Poor survival and lack of response to current treatment modalities in adult human glioblastomas is attributed to the persistence of a subpopulation of glioma stem cells (GSCs). To identify novel approaches to therapeutically target GSCs, we performed CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screens in GSCs and identified the kinase TAK1 as an important selective survival factor in 50% of the tested GSCs. In sensitive cells, knockout of TAK1 leads to induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis via the RIPK1/Caspase 8/FADD complex due to constitutive, low-level secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) and stimulation of TNF receptor 1. Furthermore, we show that expression of genes involved in immune signaling and a mesenchymal signature predict the sensitivity and response of GSCs to TAK1 inhibition. In summary, we have identified TAK1 as a new therapeutic target for mesenchymal GBM and a potential gene signature for selection of patients benefitting from TAK1 targeted therapy. Overall design: Comparative gene expression profiling analysis of baseline RNAseq data from 12 glioblastoma stem cell lines determined to be sensitive or restistant to TAK1 inhibition