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05:36
Comparing Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Model Established in Mouse Kidney and on Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane
Published on: February 8, 2020
Profilin-1 Promotes Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma Malignancy
Kaylee Montanari1, Anup Acharya2, Cais Vo3
1Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|May 25, 2026
Summary
Profilin-1 (Pfn1) drives aggressive chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (ChRCC) progression. Inhibiting Pfn1 suppressed tumor growth and invasion, suggesting Pfn1 as a therapeutic target for advanced ChRCC.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (ChRCC) lacks targeted therapies for metastatic disease.
- Profilin-1 (Pfn1), a cytoskeletal regulator, is implicated in other cancers but its role in ChRCC is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Profilin-1 (Pfn1) in chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (ChRCC) progression.
- To evaluate Pfn1 as a potential therapeutic target in advanced ChRCC.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed Pfn1 expression in stage IV ChRCC patients.
- Manipulated Pfn1 expression (knockdown and overexpression) in ChRCC cell lines (UOK276, RCJ41M).
- Assessed effects of Pfn1 manipulation and pharmacological inhibition on cell proliferation, invasion, colony formation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels.
Main Results:
- Elevated Pfn1 expression correlated with advanced stage IV ChRCC.
- Pfn1 knockdown reduced ChRCC cell proliferation, invasion, and colony formation.
- Pfn1 overexpression enhanced aggressive phenotypes, while pharmacological inhibition suppressed growth.
- Pfn1 modulation affected intracellular ROS levels, linking cytoskeletal dynamics to oxidative stress.
Conclusions:
- Profilin-1 (Pfn1) is a critical mediator of ChRCC progression, promoting aggressive tumor behavior.
- Pfn1 links cytoskeletal remodeling to aggressive phenotypes and oxidative stress control in ChRCC.
- Pfn1 represents a promising therapeutic target for advanced chromophobe renal cell carcinoma.
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