AUTHOR=Tong Ying , Yu Yiwen , Zheng Hui , Wang Yanchun , Xie Suhong , Chen Cuncun , Lu Renquan , Guo Lin 

TITLE=Differentially Expressed Genes in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma as a Potential Marker for Prognostic and Immune Signatures

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.776824

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2021.776824

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<p>Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is characterized by the inactivation of the von Hippel–Lindau (<italic>VHL</italic>) gene. Of note, no other gene is mutated as frequently as <italic>VHL</italic> in ccRCC, turning out that patients with inactivated <italic>VHL</italic> constitute the majority of ccRCC-related character. Thus, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their molecular networks caused by <italic>VHL</italic> mutation were considered as important factors for influencing the prognosis of ccRCC. Here, we first screened out six DEGs (<italic>GSTA1</italic>, <italic>GSTA2</italic>, <italic>NAT8</italic>, <italic>FABP7</italic>, <italic>SLC17A3</italic>, and <italic>SLC17A4</italic>) which downregulated in ccRCC patients with <italic>VHL</italic> non-mutation than with the mutation. Generally, most DEGs with high expression were associated with a favorable prognosis and low-risk score. Meanwhile, we spotted transcription factors and their kinases as hubs of DEGs. Finally, we clustered ccRCC patients into three subgroups according to the expression of hub proteins, and analyzed these subgroups with clinical profile, outcome, immune infiltration, and potential Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) response. Herein, DEGs might be a promising biomarker panel for immunotherapy and prognosis in ccRCC. Moreover, the ccRCC subtype associated with high expression of hubs fit better for ICB therapy.</p>