Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 28, 2026
Comparing Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Model Established in Mouse Kidney and on Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane
Published on: February 8, 2020
KIFC1 is Associated With Sarcomatoid Differentiation, Immune Response, and a Poor Prognosis in Clear Cell Renal Cell
Yoshinori Nakano1, Yohei Sekino1, Go Kobayashi2
1Department of Urology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
Introduction:
Centrosome clustering is a cancer-specific adaptation that allows cells with centrosome amplification to evade mitotic catastrophe and has emerged as a potential therapeutic target. We analyzed the prognostic role of several molecules related to centrosome clustering and found that Kinesin Family Member C1 (KIFC1) was strongly associated with a poor prognosis. KIFC1, a kinesin motor protein, plays a central role in centrosome clustering. However, its biological and clinical significance in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains poorly understood.
Methods:
We conducted a comprehensive analysis using several public datasets (TCGA KIRC, JAVELIN101, IMmotion151, and others) and a Hiroshima ccRCC cohort (n = 110) to evaluate the expression of KIFC1, clinicopathological associations, the prognosis, and treatment response. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis was performed to explore associated pathways.
Results:
Immunohistochemical and in silico analyses showed that high KIFC1 expression was significantly associated with high tumor grade, advanced TNM stage, and sarcomatoid differentiation. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that the high-expression of KIFC1 was independently associated with poor overall survival. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis revealed enrichment of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and interferon gamma response pathways in KIFC1-high tumors. The expression of KIFC1 was also correlated with TKI resistance, immune response, high clonal neoantigen load, and BAP1 mutation.
Conclusion:
KIFC1 serves as a multifunctional molecule linking epithelial-mesenchymal transition, immune modulation, and treatment resistance. It may be a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in ccRCC, warranting further functional and clinical investigation.
