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Open Access 12-12-2023 | Kidney Cancer | RESEARCH ARTICLE

Transforming growth factors β and their signaling pathway in renal cell carcinoma and peritumoral space—transcriptome analysis

Authors: Dariusz Kajdaniuk, Dorota Hudy, Joanna Katarzyna Strzelczyk, Krystyna Młynarek, Szymon Słomian, Andrzej Potyka, Ewa Szymonik, Janusz Strzelczyk, Wanda Foltyn, Beata Kos-Kudła, Bogdan Marek

Published in: Clinical and Translational Oncology | Issue 5/2024

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the study was to verify hypotheses: Are transforming growth factors TGFβ1-3, their receptors TGFβI-III, and intracellular messenger proteins Smad1-7 involved in the pathogenesis of kidney cancer? What is the expression of genes of the TGFβ/Smads pathway in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tissues, peritumoral tissues (TME; tumor microenvironment), and in normal kidney (NK) tissue?.

Methods

Twenty patients with RCC who underwent total nephrectomy were included into the molecular analysis. The mRNA expression of the genes was quantified by RT-qPCR.

Results

The study showed that the expression of the genes of TGFβ/Smads pathway is dysregulated in both RCC and the TME: TGFβ1, TGFβ3 expression is increased in the TME in comparison to the NK tissues; TGFβ2, TGFβ3, TGFβRI, TGFβRIII, Smad1, Smad2, Smad3, and Smad6 are underexpressed in RCC comparing to the TME tissues; TGFβRI, TGFβRIII, and Smad2 are underexpressed in RCC in comparison to the NK tissues.

Conclusion

On the one hand, the underexpression of the TGFβ signaling pathway genes within the malignant tumor may result in the loss of the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activity of this cytokine. On the other hand, the overexpression of the TGFβ/Smads pathway genes in the TME than in tumor or NK tissues most probably results in an immunosuppressive effect in the space surrounding the tumor and may have an antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effect on non-neoplastic cells present in the TME. The functional and morphological consistency of this area may determine the aggressiveness of the tumor and the time in which the neoplastic process will spread.

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Title: Transforming growth factors β and their signaling pathway in renal cell carcinoma and peritumoral space—transcriptome analysis
Authors: Dariusz Kajdaniuk
Dorota Hudy
Joanna Katarzyna Strzelczyk
Krystyna Młynarek
Szymon Słomian
Andrzej Potyka
Ewa Szymonik
Janusz Strzelczyk
Wanda Foltyn
Beata Kos-Kudła
Bogdan Marek
Publication date: 12-12-2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Keywords: Kidney Cancer
Kidney Cancer
Kidney Cancer
Growth Factors
Growth Factors
Published in: Clinical and Translational Oncology / Issue 5/2024
Print ISSN: 1699-048X
Electronic ISSN: 1699-3055
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-023-03350-y

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