Microenvironment-related gene TNFSF13B predicts poor prognosis in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma.

Mingzhe Jiang,Jiaxing Lin,Meng Yu,Biao Wang,Jieping Yang,Haotian Xing,Yuyan Zhu,Jun An

doi:10.7717/peerj.9453

Abstract

BackgroundKidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) affects the genitourinary system. Although treatment of KIRC in early stages can be highly successful, this type of cancer is difficult to detect until later stages of disease that are less easily treatable. Previous studies have focused on tumor cells, but have ignored the contributions of the tumor microenvironment.MethodsWe analyzed KIRC gene expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas with the ESTIMATE algorithm to identify differentially expressed genes. Through protein–protein interaction network analysis, we identified clusters and picked genes from the clusters for further analysis. Differential expression, Kaplan–Meier, and univariate Cox analyses were used to select prognostic biomarkers. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) analysis were used to explore the immune characteristics of these genes as biomarkers.ResultsThrough the ESTIMATE algorithm and other system biology tools, TNFSF13B was identified as a prognostic biomarker. TNFSF13B is highly expressed in tumors, and high expression of TNFSF13B leads to poor prognosis. Further GSEA and TIMER analysis revealed that the expression of TNFSF13B was related to the immune signaling pathway and lymphocyte infiltration. Our findings strongly suggest that TNFSF13B may be a potential biomarker or target related to the tumor microenvironment for KIRC.

Highlights

Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is a highly prevalent urinary system cancer, accounting for 80–90% of lesions in the renal space and about 3% of all new cases of tumors worldwide
Despite numerous studies showing the efficacy of this data-based algorithm and the ability to calculate immune and stromal scores for KIRC, no detailed investigation has been conducted. In this first report using the TCGA database to assess the KIRC cohort using the ESTIMATE algorithm, we identified the gene related to the microenvironment that should be further characterized for its ability to predict the prognosis of patients with KIRC
Scores of the ESTIMATE algorithm are related to the survival and prognosis of kidney renal clear cell carcinoma The gene expression profiles and clinical data were obtained for all KIRC patients available in the TCGA database

Summary

Introduction

Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is a highly prevalent urinary system cancer, accounting for 80–90% of lesions in the renal space and about 3% of all new cases of tumors worldwide. Microenvironment-related gene TNFSF13B predicts poor prognosis in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma. Biotherapy and surgical treatment can be effective in early stages, renal cell carcinoma typically is not detected until later stages. Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) affects the genitourinary system. Treatment of KIRC in early stages can be highly successful, this type of cancer is difficult to detect until later stages of disease that are less treatable. Results: Through the ESTIMATE algorithm and other system biology tools, TNFSF13B was identified as a prognostic biomarker. Our findings strongly suggest that TNFSF13B may be a potential biomarker or target related to the tumor microenvironment for KIRC

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