AUTHOR=Chen Xinglin , Zhang Tongtong , Zhai Xinyu , Wan Zhong , Ge Minyao , Liu Chengzong , Tan Mingyue , Xu Dongliang 

TITLE=Identifying tumor antigens and immune subtypes of renal cell carcinoma for immunotherapy development

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1037808

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2022.1037808

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=Abstract
Renal cell cancer (RCC) is one of males' leading causes of death. Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines may be an attractive means to achieve satisfactory results. Cancer immunotherapy is a promising cancer treatment strategy. However, immunotherapy is not widely used in renal cell carcinoma, as only a few patients show a positive response. The present study aimed to identify potential antigens associated with renal cell carcinoma to develop an anti-renal cell carcinoma mRNA vaccine. Moreover, the immune subtypes of renal cell carcinoma cells were determined. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) analysis revealed gene expression profiles and clinical information. Antigen-presenting cells infiltrated the immune system using TIMER tool (http://timer.cistrome.org/). GDSC (Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer) data were used to estimate drug sensitivity. The 13 immune-related genes discovery could be a target for immunotherapy in renal cell carcinoma patients, as they were associated with a better prognosis and a higher level of antigen-presenting cells. These immune subtypes have significant relationships with immunological checkpoints, immunogenic cell death regulators, and RCC prognostic variables. Furthermore, DBH-AS1 was identified as potential antigens for developing an mRNA vaccine. The CCK8 assay demonstrated that the proliferative capacity of 786-O and Caki-1 cells overexpressing DBH-AS1 was higher than control group. In addition, transwell assay revealed that 786-O and Caki-1 cells overexpressing DBH-AS1 showed higher invasion capacity compared with empty vector. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of mRNA vaccines. Our findings suggest that DBH-AS1 could be potential antigens for developing RCC mRNA vaccines.
Keywords: DBH-AS1; immunotherapy; mRNA vaccine; renal cell carcinoma; immune subtypes