TGFB1 mRNA expression is associated with poor prognosis and specific features of inflammation in ccRCC

Biomarkers associated with cell-in-cell structure in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma based on transcriptome sequencing

Background

Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC), the main histological subtype of renal cell carcinoma, has a high incidence globally. Cell-in-cell structures (CICs), as a cellular biological phenomenon, play pivotal roles in cell competition, immune evasion and tumor progression in the context of KIRC.

Methods

Data for this study were sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the limma package. Enrichment analyses were performed using the clusterProfiler package. Support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression, implemented via the caret and glmnet packages in R, were used to select biomarkers. The accuracy of these biomarkers was verified by using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve as well as in vitro experiments (CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay, Transwell assay, and quantitative real-time PCR). The CIBERSORT algorithm was applied to explore the association between immune infiltration and the biomarkers. Further analysis explored the association between these biomarkers and clinicopathological characteristics of KIRC. For single-cell data, the Seurat package is used to read the sample data, and the SCTransform function is employed for normalization.

Results

This study identified 1,256 DEGs which enriched in T-cell immune system regulation processes. Five hub genes (CDKN2A, VIM, TGFB1, CTSS, and CDC20) were biomarkers with area under the curve (AUC) values > 0.8, indicating high predictive performance. In vitro validation experiments demonstrated that the expressions of all five biomarkers in KIRC cells were elevated, and the knockdown of CTSS could inhibit the migration and invasion of KIRC cells. Immune infiltration analysis showed higher proportions of T-cells and macrophages in tumor tissues. CDKN2A and CDC20 expressions correlated significantly with stage and grade, while TGFB1, CDKN2A, and CDC20 were highly expressed in proliferative tumor cells.

Conclusion

This study provides new biomarkers for KIRC, offering valuable insights into its developmental mechanisms for the research of CIC in this disease.

Targeting transforming growth factor-β1 by methylseleninic acid/seleno-L-methionine in clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Mechanisms and therapeutic potential

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) poses a significant global health challenge as its incidence continues to rise, resulting in a substantial annual mortality rate. Major clinical challenges to current ccRCC treatments include high drug-resistance rates as well as dose-limiting adverse events; underlining the need to identify additional 'druggable' targets. TGF-β1, VEGF, and PD-L1 are potential therapeutic targets in ccRCC. This study analyzed their expression in human ccRCC cell lines and patient tumor biopsies. Data obtained from western blotting demonstrated higher levels of TGF-β1 and PD-L1 and lower levels of VEGF in sarcomatoid ccRCC cell lines compared to non-sarcomatoid ccRCC cell lines. In patient samples, TGF-β1 was significantly upregulated in both non-sarcomatoid and sarcomatoid ccRCC tumors. It was demonstrated through two assays (cellular thermal shift assay and a size exclusion assay) that methylseleninic acid (MSA) binds specifically and directly to TGF-β1. MSA treatment significantly downregulated TGF-β1, PD-L1, and VEGF in a dose- and time-dependent manner in both non-sarcomatoid and sarcomatoid ccRCC cell lines. Seleno-L-methionine (SLM) treatment in a nude mouse xenograft model showed a significant tumor growth inhibition and TGF-β1 downregulation at non-toxic doses. These findings suggest that selenium-mediated downregulation of TGF-β1, PD-L1, and VEGF could be a viable therapeutic strategy for ccRCC.

The roles of tertiary lymphoid structures in genitourinary cancers: molecular mechanisms, therapeutic strategies, and clinical applications

The presence of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) associated with distinct treatment efficacy and clinical prognosis has been identified in various cancer types. However, the mechanistic roles and clinical implications of TLSs in genitourinary (GU) cancers remain incompletely explored. Despite their potential role as predictive markers described in numerous studies, it is essential to comprehensively evaluate the characteristics of TLSs, including drivers of formation, structural foundation, cellular compositions, maturation stages, molecular features, and specific functionality to maximize their positive impacts on tumor-specific immunity. The unique contributions of these structures to cancer progression and biology have fueled interest in these structures as mediators of antitumor immunity. Emerging data are trying to explore the effects of therapeutic interventions targeting TLSs. Therefore, a better understanding of the molecular and phenotypic heterogeneity of TLSs may facilitate the development of TLSs-targeting therapeutic strategies to obtain optimal clinical benefits for GU cancers in the setting of immunotherapy. In this review, the authors focus on the phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of TLSs in cancer progression, current therapeutic interventions targeting TLSs and the clinical implications and therapeutic potential of TLSs in GU cancers.

PD1/PD-L1 blockade in clear cell renal cell carcinoma: mechanistic insights, clinical efficacy, and future perspectives

The advent of PD1/PD-L1 inhibitors has significantly transformed the therapeutic landscape for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). This review provides an in-depth analysis of the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of PD1 and PD-L1 in ccRCC, emphasizing their role in tumor immune evasion. We comprehensively evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety profiles of PD1/PD-L1 inhibitors, such as Nivolumab and Pembrolizumab, through a critical examination of recent clinical trial data. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges posed by resistance mechanisms to these therapies and potential strategies to overcome them. We also explores the synergistic potential of combination therapies, integrating PD1/PD-L1 inhibitors with other immunotherapies, targeted therapies, and conventional modalities such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In addition, we examine emerging predictive biomarkers for response to PD1/PD-L1 blockade and biomarkers indicative of resistance, providing a foundation for personalized therapeutic approaches. Finally, we outline future research directions, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies, deeper mechanistic insights, and the development of individualized treatment regimens. Our work summarizes the latest knowledge and progress in this field, aiming to provide a valuable reference for improving clinical efficacy and guiding future research on the application of PD1/PD-L1 inhibitors in ccRCC.

microRNA-141-3p Suppressed the Progression of the Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma by Targeting Transforming Growth Factor Beta 2 Gene Expression

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a malignant tumor of kidney epithelial cells, one of the most common tumors in the world. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ)1 is a crucial factor that induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer cells. microRNA-141-3p (miR-141-3p) is a microRNA that is considered a tumor suppressor. However, the role and mechanism of miR-141-3p in TGFβ1-induced ccRCC cells are not fully understood. This study investigated the roles of miR-141-3p and its target gene in regulating EMT in ccRCC development. 786-0 and Caki-1cells were treated with TGFβ1 to induce EMT. The levels of miR-141-3p and TGFβ2 were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. The progression of EMT was evaluated by E-cadherin detection by immunofluorescence, and E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin detection by Western blotting. Furthermore, migration and invasion capacities were assessed using a Transwell system. The direct binding of miR-141-3p with the target gene TGFβ2 was confirmed by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Results indicated that TGFβ1 treatment decreased the protein abundance of E-cadherin while increasing the protein expression of N-cadherin and vimentin, indicating TGFβ1-induced EMT was constructed successfully. Moreover, TGFβ1 treatment repressed the expression of miR-141-3p. miR-141-3p mimics reversed the effect of TGFβ1 on the migration, invasion, and expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin. The miR-141-3p directly binds with the 3' untranslated region of TGFβ2 mRNA and suppresses its expression. Furthermore, TGFβ2 overexpression abrogated the above changes regulated by miR-141-3p mimics. Taken together, miR-141-3p inhibited TGFβ1-induced EMT by suppressing the migration and invasion of ccRCC cells via directly targeting TGFβ2 gene expression.

Pan-cancer analysis revealing the multidimensional expression and prognostic and immunologic roles of TGFB1 in cancer

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to perform an integrated pan-cancer analysis to characterize the expression patterns, prognostic value, genetic alterations, and immunologic roles of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1) across diverse human cancer types.

METHODS

Bioinformatics analyses were conducted using multiple public databases including The Cancer Genome Atlas, Genotype-Tissue Expression, Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium, TIMER2, GEPIA2, cBioPortal, StringDB, and others. Differential expression, survival, immune correlation, and protein interaction network analyses were performed.

RESULTS

TGFB1 was overexpressed in several tumor types compared with that in normal tissues. High TGFB1 expression was associated with an advanced stage and poorer prognosis in certain cancers. TGFB1 mutations occurred in 1.3% of 10,967 cases surveyed. TGFB1 expression correlated with tumor-infiltrating immune cells and immunotherapy-related genes.

CONCLUSIONS

This comprehensive multi-omics analysis revealed the complex expression and prognostic landscape of TGFB1 across cancers. TGFB1 is emerging as a potential immunotherapeutic target in certain contexts. Further research should elucidate its multifaceted tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressive mechanisms. Our pan-cancer analysis provides new insights into TGFB1 as a prognostic biomarker and immunotherapeutic target in human cancers, and our findings may guide future preclinical and clinical investigations of TGFB1-directed therapies.

Systematic analysis of RNASET2 gene as a potential prognostic and immunological biomarker in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

RNASET2 has been identified as an oncogene with anti-angiogenic and immunomodulatory effects in a variety of cancers, but its function in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is still not well understood.

METHODS

The RNASET2 expression matrix was extracted from the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets and analyzed for diagnostic and prognostic value. RNASET2 mRNA expression was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in ccRCC patients and renal cancer cell lines. Wound healing assay, transwell assay, western blotting, and tube formation assays were used to evaluate the function of RNASET2 in renal cancer in vitro. In addition, transcriptome sequencing was performed on knockdown RNASET2 kidney cancer cells to analyze their potential signaling pathways. Moreover, the immune microenvironment and mutational status were evaluated to predict the potential mechanisms of RNASET2 involvement in renal cancer progression. Sensitivity to common chemotherapeutic and targeted agents was assessed according to the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) database.

RESULTS

RNASET2 expression was significantly upregulated in ccRCC tissues and renal cancer cell lines, predicting poor prognosis for patients. In vitro experiments showed that silencing RNASET2 inhibited the migration and pro-angiogenic ability of renal cancer cells. Transcriptome sequencing suggested its possible involvement in the remodeling of the immune microenvironment in renal cell carcinoma. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemical staining showed that RNASET2 was positively correlated with the infiltration abundance of regulatory T cells. Finally, we mapped the mutational landscape of RNASET2 in ccRCC and found its predictive value for drug sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that RNASET2 is a promising biomarker and therapeutic target in ccRCC.

The soldiers needed to be awakened: Tumor-infiltrating immune cells

In the tumor microenvironment, tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) are a key component. Different types of TIICs play distinct roles. CD8+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells could secrete soluble factors to hinder tumor cell growth, whereas regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) release inhibitory factors to promote tumor growth and progression. In the meantime, a growing body of evidence illustrates that the balance between pro- and anti-tumor responses of TIICs is associated with the prognosis in the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, in order to boost anti-tumor response and improve the clinical outcome of tumor patients, a variety of anti-tumor strategies for targeting TIICs based on their respective functions have been developed and obtained good treatment benefits, including mainly immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), adoptive cell therapies (ACT), chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, and various monoclonal antibodies. In recent years, the tumor-specific features of immune cells are further investigated by various methods, such as using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), and the results indicate that these cells have diverse phenotypes in different types of tumors and emerge inconsistent therapeutic responses. Hence, we concluded the recent advances in tumor-infiltrating immune cells, including functions, prognostic values, and various immunotherapy strategies for each immune cell in different tumors.