Abstract
BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive and common form of malignant brain tumor in adults, characterized by poor prognosis and limited treatment options. The molecular mechanisms underlying GBM pathogenesis and progression remain incompletely understood. Recent studies have suggested potential links between anesthesia-related genes and cancer progression, as well as the influence of circadian rhythm disruptions on tumor biology. METHODS: In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis using public databases to identify genes that are both related to anesthesia and circadian rhythms, and their association with GBM. We performed an analysis to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in GBM compared to normal brain tissues. NFIL3, a gene implicated in both anesthesia response and circadian rhythm regulation, was identified among the DEGs. We further validated the differential expression of NFIL3 in GBM using RT-qPCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Thirteen genes were found to be common between anesthesia-related and circadian rhythm gene datasets, with NFIL3 showing significant differential expression in GBM tissues. Our analysis revealed that higher expression of NFIL3 was significantly associated with worse overall survival in GBM patients. Experimental validation confirmed the overexpression of NFIL3 at both mRNA and protein levels in GBM samples compared to normal brain tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight NFIL3 as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in GBM. The dual role of NFIL3 in anesthesia-related pathways and circadian rhythm regulation may provide new insights into its role in GBM pathogenesis and its impact on patient prognosis.