Potential role of P4HB in the tumor microenvironment and its clinical prognostic value: a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis and experimental validation with a focus on KIRC

Abstract Background Tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in tumor growth and metastasis. Exploring biomarkers that are significantly associated with TME can help guide individualized treatment of patients. Methods We analyzed the expression and survival of P4HB in pan-cancer through the...

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Main Authors: Linxue Zhang, Yu-wei Li, Tianyi Xie, Ke Sun, Xiang Huang, Wei Xiong, Rui-ji Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:Cancer Cell International
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-024-03575-z
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author Linxue Zhang
Yu-wei Li
Tianyi Xie
Ke Sun
Xiang Huang
Wei Xiong
Rui-ji Liu
author_facet Linxue Zhang
Yu-wei Li
Tianyi Xie
Ke Sun
Xiang Huang
Wei Xiong
Rui-ji Liu
author_sort Linxue Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in tumor growth and metastasis. Exploring biomarkers that are significantly associated with TME can help guide individualized treatment of patients. Methods We analyzed the expression and survival of P4HB in pan-cancer through the TCGA database, and verified the protein level of P4HB by the HPA database. In addition, we used the Metascape database to construct protein–protein interaction networks and the single-cell Sequencing database for functional analysis. An immune cell infiltration analysis was performed to explore the potential role of P4HB in TME. We further analyze the relationship between P4HB and immune checkpoint molecules to explore the role of P4HB in immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Finally, the oncogenic role of P4HB in RCC cells was validated using colony formation and wound healing assays. Results RNA and protein levels of P4HB were extensively up-regulated in pan-cancer. However, high P4HB expression was associated with poor survival in KIRC. The clinical relevance analyses of P4HB suggested that high P4HB expression was associated with advanced clinical TNM stage. Moreover, multivariate cox regression analysis indicated that P4HB (HR = 1.372, 95% CI 1.047–1.681, P = 0.019) was an independent risk factor for OS in KIRC. Functional analysis revealed that P4HB is involved in hypoxia, TME and immune system processes. Our study also found that high P4HB expression was significantly correlated with elevated infiltration levels in CD8 + T cells and M2 macrophages. The results of colony formation and wound healing assays showed that knockdown of P4HB inhibited the RCC growth and migration. Conclusions P4HB is a specific biomarker for KIRC prognosis and is significantly associated with clinical characteristics. In addition, P4HB may play an influential role in TME and is a biomarker for ICB therapy. Graphic abstract
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spelling doaj-art-895e0f3f97a74644a975f537121deee02025-08-20T02:46:07ZengBMCCancer Cell International1475-28672025-01-0125112010.1186/s12935-024-03575-zPotential role of P4HB in the tumor microenvironment and its clinical prognostic value: a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis and experimental validation with a focus on KIRCLinxue Zhang0Yu-wei Li1Tianyi Xie2Ke Sun3Xiang Huang4Wei Xiong5Rui-ji Liu6School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaSchool of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Neuroscience, Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts & Science, University of PittsburghSchool of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Urology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Urology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Urology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaAbstract Background Tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in tumor growth and metastasis. Exploring biomarkers that are significantly associated with TME can help guide individualized treatment of patients. Methods We analyzed the expression and survival of P4HB in pan-cancer through the TCGA database, and verified the protein level of P4HB by the HPA database. In addition, we used the Metascape database to construct protein–protein interaction networks and the single-cell Sequencing database for functional analysis. An immune cell infiltration analysis was performed to explore the potential role of P4HB in TME. We further analyze the relationship between P4HB and immune checkpoint molecules to explore the role of P4HB in immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Finally, the oncogenic role of P4HB in RCC cells was validated using colony formation and wound healing assays. Results RNA and protein levels of P4HB were extensively up-regulated in pan-cancer. However, high P4HB expression was associated with poor survival in KIRC. The clinical relevance analyses of P4HB suggested that high P4HB expression was associated with advanced clinical TNM stage. Moreover, multivariate cox regression analysis indicated that P4HB (HR = 1.372, 95% CI 1.047–1.681, P = 0.019) was an independent risk factor for OS in KIRC. Functional analysis revealed that P4HB is involved in hypoxia, TME and immune system processes. Our study also found that high P4HB expression was significantly correlated with elevated infiltration levels in CD8 + T cells and M2 macrophages. The results of colony formation and wound healing assays showed that knockdown of P4HB inhibited the RCC growth and migration. Conclusions P4HB is a specific biomarker for KIRC prognosis and is significantly associated with clinical characteristics. In addition, P4HB may play an influential role in TME and is a biomarker for ICB therapy. Graphic abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-024-03575-zP4HBPan-cancerTumor microenvironmentKidney renal clear cell carcinomaImmune checkpoint molecules
spellingShingle Linxue Zhang
Yu-wei Li
Tianyi Xie
Ke Sun
Xiang Huang
Wei Xiong
Rui-ji Liu
Potential role of P4HB in the tumor microenvironment and its clinical prognostic value: a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis and experimental validation with a focus on KIRC
Cancer Cell International
P4HB
Pan-cancer
Tumor microenvironment
Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma
Immune checkpoint molecules
title Potential role of P4HB in the tumor microenvironment and its clinical prognostic value: a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis and experimental validation with a focus on KIRC
title_full Potential role of P4HB in the tumor microenvironment and its clinical prognostic value: a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis and experimental validation with a focus on KIRC
title_fullStr Potential role of P4HB in the tumor microenvironment and its clinical prognostic value: a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis and experimental validation with a focus on KIRC
title_full_unstemmed Potential role of P4HB in the tumor microenvironment and its clinical prognostic value: a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis and experimental validation with a focus on KIRC
title_short Potential role of P4HB in the tumor microenvironment and its clinical prognostic value: a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis and experimental validation with a focus on KIRC
title_sort potential role of p4hb in the tumor microenvironment and its clinical prognostic value a comprehensive pan cancer analysis and experimental validation with a focus on kirc
topic P4HB
Pan-cancer
Tumor microenvironment
Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma
Immune checkpoint molecules
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-024-03575-z
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