Renal cell carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, and kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is the most common histopathological type of renal cell carcinoma. However, the mechanism of KIRC progression remains poorly understood. Apolipoprotein M (ApoM) is a plasma apolipoprotein and a member of the lipid transport protein superfamily. Lipid metabolism is essential for tumor progression, and its related proteins can be used as therapeutic targets for tumors. ApoM influences the development of several cancers, but its relationship with KIRC remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the biological function of ApoM in KIRC and to reveal its potential molecular mechanisms. We found that ApoM expression was significantly reduced in KIRC and was strongly correlated with patient prognosis. ApoM overexpression significantly inhibited KIRC cell proliferation in vitro, suppressed the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of KIRC cells, and decreased their metastatic capacity. Additionally, the growth of KIRC cells was inhibited by ApoM overexpression in vivo. In addition, we found that overexpression of ApoM in KIRC attenuated Hippo-YAP protein expression and YAP stability and thus inhibited KIRC growth and progression. Therefore, ApoM may be a potential target for the treatment of KIRC.
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