Lysine methyltransferase 5C increases the proliferation and metastatic abilities of clear cell renal cell carcinoma...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epigenetics
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is an aggressive kidney cancer subtype with high metastasis and recurrence rates.
• Histone modifications, including H4K20 trimethylation by Lysine methyltransferase 5C (KMT5C), are crucial in cancer development.
• The specific role of KMT5C in ccRCC pathogenesis is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the expression and functional role of KMT5C in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
• To determine if KMT5C influences key cancer processes like proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and glycolysis in ccRCC.

Main Methods:

• KMT5C expression levels were compared between ccRCC tissues and normal tissues.
• ccRCC cell lines with reduced KMT5C expression were established to study its function.
• The impact of KMT5C on glycolytic genes, proliferation, and EMT-associated transcription factors was analyzed.

Main Results:

• KMT5C expression was significantly upregulated in ccRCC tissues and correlated with poorer patient survival.
• KMT5C knockdown in ccRCC cells reduced aerobic glycolysis by regulating key glycolytic genes.
• KMT5C promoted ccRCC cell proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by controlling critical transcription factors.

Conclusions:

• KMT5C acts as an oncoprotein in ccRCC, driving tumor growth and progression.
• KMT5C levels may serve as a biomarker for molecular diagnosis of ccRCC.
• KMT5C represents a potential therapeutic target for developing novel treatment strategies for ccRCC.