RNA-Binding Musashi Proteins Emerge as Key Players in Aggressive Brain Tumors

A new review published in Molecular Biology Reports brings together what scientists currently know about the Musashi family of RNA-binding proteins and their involvement in brain cancers, from the earliest steps of tumor formation to disease progression and resistance to therapy. The review, authored by Bahareh Mazrouei, Fariba Dehghanian, Navid Kazemi, Björn Grüning and Mohammad Kazemi, focuses on the two family members, MSI1 and MSI2, and their role in controlling how cells read and translate their messenger RNA. RNA-binding proteins are fundamental regulators of post-transcriptional processes, meaning they act on RNA molecules after they are copied from DNA.

The Musashi proteins have gained increasing recognition for their involvement in cancer development because they control mRNA translation and help maintain stem cell identity, effectively deciding the fate of a cell by influencing which of its genes produce proteins. According to the review, dysregulation of the Musashi family, with MSI1 highlighted as a prominent example, has been associated with multiple stages of brain tumor biology. These stages range from tumorigenesis, the process by which tumors first arise, through disease progression to therapeutic resistance, one of the major obstacles in treating aggressive brain cancers.

MSI1 is specifically linked to the survival of cancer stem cells, their ability to grow more quickly, difficulty differentiating into normal cells, and a greater tendency to form aggressive tumors. These associations have been observed across various types of central nervous system cancers, including gliomas, medulloblastomas, ependymomas and meningiomas, among others. The connection to cancer stem cells is central to why these proteins attract attention.

The review also notes that Musashi proteins participate in processes affecting nerve cell development and pituitary gland function. This broader biological activity suggests they may play a role in more complex conditions related to both the nervous system and cancer, extending their relevance beyond tumor biology alone. Because of their key function in maintaining stem-like properties and supporting tumor growth, the authors describe Musashi proteins as valuable tools for diagnosing and treating aggressive brain tumors.

The review frames them as candidates that could inform both how clinicians assess these cancers and how new treatments might be designed in the future. The article is structured as a general overview rather than a single experimental study. It surveys existing knowledge of the roles Musashi proteins play in normal biology, examines their connection to specific types of brain tumors, and explores new possibilities for treating these conditions.

As with any review, its conclusions reflect the state of the published literature it summarizes, and the authors present the therapeutic possibilities as directions for further investigation rather than established clinical options.

Subject of Research: The roles of Musashi Proteins in brain cancers: from stem cell regulation to tumor progression

Article Title: The roles of Musashi Proteins in brain cancers: from stem cell regulation to tumor progression

Article References: Mazrouei, B., Dehghanian, F., Kazemi, N., Grüning, B., & Kazemi, M. (2026). The roles of Musashi Proteins in brain cancers: from stem cell regulation to tumor progression. Molecular Biology Reports, 53(1), Article 1833. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-026-13051-8

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s11033-026-13051-8

Keywords: roles, Musashi, Proteins, brain, cancers, stem, cell, regulation, tumor, progression, scientific research