Expression and clinicopathological correlations of retinoid acid receptor responder protein 1 in renal cell carcinomas

Multi-omics analysis uncovers clinical, immunological, and pharmacogenomic implications of cuproptosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The latest research proposed a novel copper-dependent programmed cell death named cuproptosis. We aimed to elucidate the influence of cuproptosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) from a multi-omic perspective.

METHODS

This study systematically assessed mRNA expression, methylation, and genetic alterations of cuproptosis genes in TCGA ccRCC samples. Through unsupervised clustering analysis, the samples were classified as different cuproptosis subtypes, which were verified through NTP method in the E-MTAB-1980 dataset. Next, the cuproptosis score (Cuscore) was computed based on cuproptosis-related genes via PCA. We also evaluated clinical and immunogenomic features, drug sensitivity, immunotherapeutic response, and post-transcriptional regulation.

RESULTS

Cuproptosis genes presented multi-layer alterations in ccRCC, and were linked with patients' survival and immune microenvironment. We defined three cuproptosis subtypes [C1 (moderate cuproptosis), C2 (low cuproptosis), and C3 (high cuproptosis)], and the robustness and reproducibility of this classification was further proven. Overall survival was best in C3, moderate in C1, and worst in C2. C1 had the highest sensitivity to pazopanib, and sorafenib, while C2 was most sensitive to sunitinib. Furthermore, C1 patients benefited more from anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Patients with high Cuscore presented the notable survival advantage. Cuscore was highly linked with immunogenomic features, and post-transcriptional events that contributed to ccRCC development. Finally, several potential compounds and druggable targets (NMU, RARRES1) were selected for low Cuscore group.

CONCLUSION

Overall, our study revealed the non-negligible role of cuproptosis in ccRCC development. Evaluation of the cuproptosis subtypes improves our cognition of immunogenomic features and better guides personalized prognostication and precision therapy.

Ceruloplasmin expression in renal cell carcinoma correlates with higher-grade and shortened survival

Aim: We aimed to explore ceruloplasmin (CP) expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Materials & methods: CP was analyzed in biofluid samples of 63 ccRCC patients, divided into three grading groups, and immunohistochemically, in 308 ccRCC. Results: Significant differences of mean plasma and urine CP levels in different grading groups were found. CP immunoreactivity was significantly linked to high-grade disease. Log rank tests showed a significant shorter overall survival rate in CP-positive cases (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: CP protein levels in biofluid samples confirmed differential CP expressions, depending on nuclear grade in ccRCC as previously seen in RNA expression analysis. CP expression was linked to high-grade disease and reduced survival rate in RCC.

Sexual dimorphism in cancer: insights from transcriptional signatures in kidney tissue and renal cell carcinoma

Sexual dimorphism in cancer incidence and outcome is widespread. Understanding the underlying mechanisms is fundamental to improve cancer prevention and clinical management. Sex disparities are particularly striking in kidney cancer: across diverse populations, men consistently show unexplained 2-fold increased incidence and worse prognosis. We have characterized genome-wide expression and regulatory networks of 609 renal tumors and 256 non-tumor renal tissues. Normal kidney displayed sex-specific transcriptional signatures, including higher expression of X-linked tumor suppressor genes in women. Sex-dependent genotype-phenotype associations unraveled women-specific immune regulation. Sex differences were markedly expanded in tumors, with male-biased expression of key genes implicated in metabolism, non-malignant diseases with male predominance and carcinogenesis, including markers of tumor infiltrating leukocytes. Analysis of sex-dependent RCC progression and survival uncovered prognostic markers involved in immune response and oxygen homeostasis. In summary, human kidney tissues display remarkable sexual dimorphism at the molecular level. Sex-specific transcriptional signatures further shape renal cancer, with relevance for clinical management.

Cathepsin V Mediates the Tazarotene-induced Gene 1-induced Reduction in Invasion in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Tazarotene-induced gene 1 (TIG1) is a retinoid acid receptor-responsive gene involved in cell differentiation and tumorigenesis. Aberrant methylation of CpG islands in the TIG1 promoter is found in multiple cancers. Currently, the exact mechanism underlying the anticancer effect of TIG1 is unknown. Here, we show that TIG1 interacts with cathepsin V (CTSV), which reduces CTSV stability and subsequently affects the production of activated urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), an epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated protein. Ectopic expression of CTSV increased the expression of activated uPA and the number of migrated and invaded cells, whereas ectopic TIG1 expression reversed the effects of CTSV on the uPA signaling pathway. Similar patterns in the production of activated uPA and number of migrated and invaded cells were also observed in TIG1-expressing and CTSV-knockdown cells. The results suggest that CTSV may participate in TIG1-regulated uPA activity and the associated downstream signaling pathway.

Expression of RARRES1 and AGBL2 and progression of conventional renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Approximately 15% of clinically localised conventional renal cell carcinoma (RCC) will develop metastasis within 5 years of follow-up. The aim of this study was to identify biomarkers predicting the postoperative tumour relapse.

METHODS

Tissue microarrays of conventional RCC from a cohort of 691 patients without metastasis at the time of operation were analysed by immunohistochemistry for the expression of carboxypeptase inhibitor RARRES1 and its substrate carboxypeptidase AGBL2. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were addressed to postoperative tumour relapse and the metastasis-free survival time was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

In multivariate analysis, the lack of staining or cytoplasmic staining of RARRES1 was a significant risk factor indicating five times higher risk of cancer relapse. Combining its co-expression with AGBL2, we found that RARRES1 cytoplasmic/negative and AGBL2-positive/negative staining is a significant risk factor for tumour progression indicating 11-15 times higher risk of cancer relapse, whereas the membranous RARRES1 expression, especially its co-expression with AGBL2, associated with excellent disease outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

RARRES1 and AGBL2 expression defines groups of patients at low and high risk of tumour progression and may direct an active surveillance to detect metastasis as early as possible and to apply adjuvant therapy.