Background: Retinoid-binding proteins (RBPs) regulate retinoid metabolism and signaling, but their roles across human cancers remain incompletely defined. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive analysis using bioinformatics tools and experimental validations, examining RBP expression profiles across cancer types based on data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We employed survival analysis using the Kaplan–Meier method and utilized single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to investigate the roles of RBP4 and RBP7 in the tumor microenvironment. Results: Our analysis revealed significant downregulation of RBPs in multiple cancers, with RBP4 and RBP7 showing notable expression variations linked to tumor stages and grades. Cox analysis identified RBP4 as a protective gene in kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (KIRP), liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), and mesothelioma (MESO), while RBP7 exhibited protective effects in breast cancer (BRCA) and uveal melanoma (UVM). Conclusions: This pan-cancer and single-cell integrative analysis highlights the complex roles of RBPs in cancer progression and their potential as prognostic biomarkers, particularly RBP4 and RBP7 in breast cancer. These findings warrant further investigation into the functional mechanisms of RBPs, which may provide valuable strategies for therapeutic interventions.
背景：视黄醇结合蛋白（RBPs）对视黄醇代谢及信号传导具有调控作用，但其在人类各类癌症中的功能尚未完全阐明。方法：本研究基于癌症基因组图谱（TCGA）数据，运用生物信息学工具结合实验验证，系统分析了RBPs在不同癌症类型中的表达谱。通过Kaplan-Meier法进行生存分析，并采用单细胞RNA测序技术探究RBP4与RBP7在肿瘤微环境中的作用。结果：分析显示RBPs在多种癌症中显著下调，其中RBP4和RBP7的表达变化与肿瘤分期及分级密切相关。Cox回归分析表明，RBP4在肾乳头状细胞癌、肝细胞癌和间皮瘤中发挥保护作用，而RBP7在乳腺癌和葡萄膜黑色素瘤中呈现保护效应。结论：本次泛癌种与单细胞整合分析揭示了RBPs在癌症进展中的复杂作用及其作为预后生物标志物的潜力，特别是在乳腺癌中的RBP4与RBP7。这些发现为深入探究RBPs的功能机制提供了依据，可能为临床治疗干预提供有价值的策略。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家