Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common and aggressive type of primary kidney cancer worldwide. Transmembrane protein 45A (TMEM45A) has been reported to be closely associated with the progression of several cancers. However, the role of TMEM45A in ccRCC remains unclear. Our study intended to explore the potential role of TMEM45A in ccRCC.
Methods: Data on the expression of TMEM45A were obtained from multiple databases, including UCSC, GEPIA2, Oncomine and TIMER. Real-world samples of ccRCC and paired normal renal tissues were used to confirm the information obtained from the databases. In addition, the prognostic value of TMEM45A was evaluated. Loss-of-function assays were performed using TMEM45A-targeting lentivirus to evaluate the biological role of TMEM45A in renal cancer cells. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms.
Results: TMEM45A was significantly overexpressed in patients with ccRCC and correlated with poor overall survival and disease-free survival. In addition, the expression of TMEM45A was closely associated with various clinicopathological parameters such as histological grade and TNM stage. Knockdown of TMEM45A inhibited the proliferation and migration and promoted the apoptosis of ccRCC cells in vitro. The results of the GSEA suggested that TMEM45A was potentially involved in the promotion of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and inflammatory response in ccRCC.
Conclusion: TMEM45A was overexpressed and associated with poor survival and acted as a tumour promoter in ccRCC; therefore, might be a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target.
Keywords: biomarker, clear cell renal cell carcinoma, prognosis, TMEM45A