Multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4/ABCC4) is overexpressed in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and is essential to regulate cell proliferation
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Updated: Dec 18, 2025

The Use of Reverse Phase Protein Arrays RPPA to Explore Protein Expression Variation within Individual Renal Cell Cancers
Published on: January 22, 2013
Juan Pablo Melana Colavita1, Juan Santiago Todaro1, Maximiliano de Sousa2
1Laboratorio de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de la Facultad de Medicina (LIBIM), Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del NEA, (IQUIBA NEA-UNNE-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, 3400 Corrientes, Argentina.
Abstract:
Kidney cancer accounts for 2.5% of all cancers, with an annual global incidence of almost 300,000 cases leading to 111,000 deaths. Approximately 85% of kidney tumors are renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and their major histologic subtype is clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Although new therapeutic treatments are being designed and applied based on the combination of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy, no major impact on the mortality has been reported so far. MRP4 is a pump efflux that transporters multiple endogenous and exogenous substances. Recently it has been associated with tumoral persistence and cell proliferation in several types of cancer including pancreas, lung, ovary, colon, ostesarcoma, etc. Herein, we demonstrate for the first time, that MRP4 is overexpressed in ccRCC tumors, compared to control renal tissues. In addition, using cell culture models, we observed that MRP4 pharmacological inhibition produces an imbalance in cAMP metabolism, induces cell arrest, changes in lipid composition, increase in cytoplasmic lipid droplets and finally apoptosis. These data provide solid evidence for the future evaluation of MRP4 as a possible new therapeutic target in ccRCC.
Insights
This study reveals that MRP4 is overexpressed in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Inhibiting this transporter disrupts cell metabolism and induces apoptosis, suggesting MRP4 as a potential therapeutic target for kidney cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Kidney cancer, particularly clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), has a significant global incidence and mortality rate.
- Current treatments like tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy have limited impact on ccRCC mortality.
- MRP4, an efflux pump, is implicated in the progression of various cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of MRP4 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).
- To determine if MRP4 is a potential therapeutic target for ccRCC.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analysis of MRP4 expression in ccRCC tumors versus normal renal tissues.
- Pharmacological inhibition of MRP4 in ccRCC cell culture models.
- Assessment of cellular and metabolic changes following MRP4 inhibition, including cAMP metabolism, cell cycle, lipid composition, and apoptosis.
Main Results:
- MRP4 is significantly overexpressed in ccRCC tumors compared to healthy kidney tissue.
- Pharmacological inhibition of MRP4 in ccRCC cells led to disrupted cAMP metabolism.
- Inhibition also caused cell cycle arrest, altered lipid profiles, increased cytoplasmic lipid droplets, and induced apoptosis.
Conclusions:
- MRP4 is demonstrably overexpressed in ccRCC.
- Targeting MRP4 pharmacologically impacts critical cellular processes in ccRCC.
- These findings support the evaluation of MRP4 as a novel therapeutic target for ccRCC.
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