Aberrant expression of polo‑like kinase 4 in renal cell carcinoma: Association with clinicopathological characteristics and long‑term survival

Abstract

Polo-like kinase 4 (PLK4) promotes tumorigenesis and is associated with the prognosis of several solid tumors, while its clinical role in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains unidentified. The present study aimed to analyze the association of PLK4 with clinicopathological characteristics and long-term prognosis in patients with RCC. The present study detected PLK4 protein and mRNA expression using immunohistochemical and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR assays in 120 patients with RCC. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) time were calculated based on a median follow-up duration of 6.9 years (range, 1.2-9.9 years). PLK4 protein expression was elevated in tumor tissues compared with adjacent tissues (P<0.001). Upregulation of PLK4 protein was associated with increased T stage (P=0.023), N stage (P=0.014) and TNM stage (P=0.007). Additionally, elevated tumor PLK4 protein expression exhibited an associating trend (without statistical significance) with reduced DFS rate (P=0.066) and was associated with decreased OS rate (P=0.036). However, univariate Cox's regression analysis indicated that high PLK4 protein expression (compared with low PLK4 protein expression) was associated with reduced OS rate (P=0.040) but not with PFS rate (P=0.070). Following adjustment by multivariate Cox's regression analysis, PLK4 protein expression was associated with neither DFS nor OS rate (both P>0.050). Additionally, PLK4 mRNA expression was further detected in some patients (for which fresh specimens frozen in liquid nitrogen were available) to validate the aforementioned observations, and the expression was elevated in tumor tissues compared with adjacent tissues. Furthermore, increased PLK4 mRNA expression was associated with tumor size ≥7 cm, high TNM stage and reduced DFS rate (all P<0.050). PLK4 possesses a certain clinical utility in monitoring the clinical stage of patients with RCC, while its prognostic value requires further validation.

Tumor polo-like kinase 4 protein expression reflects lymphovascular invasion, higher Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, and shortened survival in endometrial cancer patients who undergo surgical resection

“…For example, one study showed that increased PLK4 mRNA expression is linked with tumor stage in non-small cell lung cancer patients [ 17 ]. Another study indicated that increased PLK4 mRNA expression is associated with tumor size ≥ 7 cm and high tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage in renal cell carcinoma [ 18 ]. A study elucidated that PLK4 mRNA expression is linked with a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis or surrounding recurrence in breast cancer [ 19 ].…”

Polo-Like Kinase 4 Correlates with Aggressive Tumor Characteristics, Shortened Disease-Free Survival and Overall Survival in Patients with Cutaneous Melanoma who Undergo Surgical Resection

“…Previous studies have revealed that the correlation of PLK4 with tumor features (Duan et al 2022, Jiang et al 2022, Jiawei et al 2022. For example, one study indicates that tumor PLK4 expression is associated with advanced TNM stage in colorectal cancer patients (Duan et al 2022).…”

“…For example, one study indicates that tumor PLK4 expression is associated with advanced TNM stage in colorectal cancer patients (Duan et al 2022). Another study elucidates that upregulation of PLK4 expression is linked with poor tumor differentiation and increased TNM stage in renal cell carcinoma patients (Jiang et al 2022). This study also found that elevated tumor PLK4 IHC score was correlated with lymph node metastasis, higher TNM stage, and adjuvant therapy in patients with cutaneous melanoma who underwent surgical resection.…”

“…It is elucidated that high PLK4 expression is associated with poor survival in patients with different cancers (Hu et al 2022, Zeng et al 2020, Zhang et al 2022. For instance, one study demonstrates that high PLK4 expression is correlated with shortened OS in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (Hu et al 2022).…”

“…The deregulation of PLK4 can cause abnormal centrosome, mitosis, chromosome, which are associated with tumorigenesis (Maniswami et al 2018, Zhao andWang 2019). Several studies have shown that PLK4 high expression is related with poor prognosis in some cancers (Duan et al 2022, Jiang et al 2022, Jiawei et al 2022. For instance, one study indicates that PLK4 high expression reflects advanced tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage and short overall survival (OS) in patients with colorectal cancer (Duan et al 2022).…”