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Updated: Nov 22, 2025
Comparing Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Model Established in Mouse Kidney and on Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane
Published on: February 8, 2020
Identification of Core Genes Involved in the Metastasis of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Rui Peng1, Yahui Wang2, Likai Mao3
1Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, People's Republic of China.
Introduction:
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common malignancies globally, among which clear cell carcinoma (ccRCC) accounts for 85-90% of all pathological types. This study aims to screen out potential genes in metastatic ccRCC so as to provide novel insights for ccRCC treatment.
Methods:
GSE53757 and GSE84546 datasets in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were profiled to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from ccRCC samples with or without metastasis. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and the gene ontology (GO) analysis were performed to analyze pathway enrichment and functional annotation of DEGs. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and survival analysis was conducted to evaluate the clinical values of the identified hub genes. In vitro loss-of-function assays were performed to explore the biological roles of these genes.
Results:
The bioinformatic analysis indicated that 312 DEGs were identified, including 148 upregulated genes and 164 downregulated ones. Using PPI and Cytoscape, 10 hub genes were selected (C3, CXCR4, CCl4, ACKR3, KIF20A, CCNB2, CDCA8, CCL28, S1PR5, and CCL20) from DEGs which might be closely related with ccRCC metastasis. In Kaplan-Meier analysis, three potential prognostic biomarkers (KIF20A, CCNB2 and CDCA8) were identified. Finally, cell proliferative and invasive assays further verified that KIF20A, CCNB2 and CDCA8 were associated with the proliferation and invasion of ccRCC cells.
Conclusion:
Our results demonstrated that metastatic ccRCC was partially attributed to the aberrant expression of KIF20A, CCNB2 and CDCA8, and more personalized therapeutic approaches should be explored targeting these hub genes.
Insights
This study identified KIF20A, CCNB2, and CDCA8 as key genes in metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Aberrant expression of these genes contributes to ccRCC metastasis, suggesting potential therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a prevalent global malignancy, with clear cell RCC (ccRCC) comprising 85-90% of cases.
- Metastasis in ccRCC presents a significant challenge, necessitating the identification of novel therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify potential genes associated with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).
- To provide new insights for the treatment of ccRCC by screening for key genes involved in metastasis.
Main Methods:
- Differential gene expression analysis of ccRCC samples with and without metastasis using GEO datasets (GSE53757, GSE84546).
- Pathway enrichment (KEGG) and functional annotation (GO) of differentially expressed genes (DEGs).
- Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction, survival analysis, and in vitro loss-of-function assays.
Main Results:
- 312 DEGs were identified (148 upregulated, 164 downregulated).
- Ten hub genes, including KIF20A, CCNB2, and CDCA8, were selected for their potential association with ccRCC metastasis.
- KIF20A, CCNB2, and CDCA8 were validated as prognostic biomarkers and linked to ccRCC cell proliferation and invasion.
Conclusions:
- Aberrant expression of KIF20A, CCNB2, and CDCA8 contributes to metastatic ccRCC.
- These identified hub genes represent potential targets for developing personalized therapeutic strategies for ccRCC.
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