The following is a summary of “Transcriptomics analysis revealed that TAZ regulates the proliferation of KIRC cells through mitophagy,” published in the February 2024 issue of Oncology by He et al.
The Transcriptional Co-Activator with PDZ-Binding Motif (TAZ, also known as WWTR1) is a key downstream mediator of the Hippo pathway, contributing to organ regeneration and cell differentiation in various biological processes, including development and regeneration. Emerging evidence suggests that TAZ also exerts oncogenic effects in several cancer types. However, its specific role in renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) remains poorly understood, particularly in the context of mitophagy. To address this gap, they conducted a comprehensive analysis leveraging mRNA expression profiles and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. Our investigation revealed a significant upregulation of TAZ expression in KIRC compared to normal kidney tissue, correlating with poorer patient prognosis.
Furthermore, through joint analysis involving 36 mitophagy-related genes, we observed a significant negative association between TAZ expression and mitophagy activators. Importantly, our results underscored that heightened TAZ expression in KIRC suppresses mitophagy and fosters tumor cell proliferation. These findings shed light on the pivotal role of TAZ in KIRC pathogenesis, offering potential avenues for novel therapeutic interventions targeting TAZ in KIRC treatment strategies.
Source: bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12885-024-11903-9