Background: This study aimed to investigate the expression and prognostic significance of the MRPL23 protein and mRNA in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and adjacent non-tumorous tissues. The goal was to assess the impact of MRPL23 expression on tumor behavior, progression, and patient outcomes. Methods: Using immunohistochemistry (IHC), MRPL23 protein expression was analyzed in 99 cases of ccRCC and 30 adjacent non-tumorous tissues. mRNA levels were assessed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Correlations between MRPL23 expression and clinicopathological features were examined, and survival outcomes were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox regression analyses. Results: MRPL23 protein expression was significantly lower in ccRCC tissues compared to normal tissues. In contrast, mRNA levels of MRPL23 were significantly elevated in ccRCC tissues. Expression levels were correlated with clinicopathological features, including gender, tumor grade, pT status, and disease stage, underlining their impact on tumor progression. Elevated MRPL23 protein expression was associated with poorer overall survival (OS) in ccRCC patients and remained an independent prognostic marker for adverse outcomes after adjustment for confounding variables. While high MRPL23 mRNA expression was also linked to worse OS, it did not retain its status as an independent prognostic factor after adjustments. Conclusion: MRPL23 protein expression is a potential independent prognostic biomarker in ccRCC, emphasizing its utility in predicting patient outcomes and potentially guiding therapeutic decisions. These findings highlight the importance of further research into the role of MRPL23 in ccRCC pathogenesis and its potential as a therapeutic target.
背景：本研究旨在探讨MRPL23蛋白及mRNA在肾透明细胞癌（ccRCC）及癌旁非肿瘤组织中的表达及其预后意义，以评估MRPL23表达对肿瘤生物学行为、进展及患者预后的影响。方法：采用免疫组织化学法检测99例ccRCC组织及30例癌旁非肿瘤组织中MRPL23蛋白的表达水平，并基于癌症基因组图谱数据库分析其mRNA表达水平。通过分析MRPL23表达与临床病理特征的相关性，并运用Kaplan-Meier生存曲线和Cox回归模型评估患者生存结局。结果：与正常组织相比，ccRCC组织中MRPL23蛋白表达显著降低，而mRNA水平显著升高。MRPL23表达水平与性别、肿瘤分级、pT分期及疾病分期等临床病理特征相关，表明其对肿瘤进展具有重要影响。MRPL23蛋白高表达与ccRCC患者较差的总生存期相关，且在调整混杂变量后仍是不良预后的独立预后标志物。虽然MRPL23 mRNA高表达同样与较差的总生存期相关，但在调整混杂因素后未能保持独立预后因子的地位。结论：MRPL23蛋白表达可作为ccRCC潜在的独立预后生物标志物，对预测患者预后及指导治疗决策具有重要价值。这些发现强调了进一步研究MRPL23在ccRCC发病机制中的作用及其作为治疗靶点的潜在意义。
High Expression of MRPL23 Is Associated with Poor Survival in Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家