Author:

Keywords:

Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Oncology, microRNAs, HIF-2 alpha, VEGFR2, renal cell carcinoma, miR-34c-5p, miR-185-5p, miR-221-3p, miR-222-3p, miR-223-3p, miR-3529-3p, ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH-FACTOR, EXPRESSION LEVELS, SUNITINIB, CANCER, MIR-221, TUMORIGENICITY, SUPPRESSES, RESISTANCE, DISCOVERY, ENHANCE, HIF-2α, STG/20/004#55751760, G077622N#56762580, 1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis, 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis

Abstract:

Metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (m-ccRCC) is characterized by increased hypoxia-induced factor (HIF)-2α and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-dependent angiogenesis through loss of function of the von Hippel-Lindau protein. VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGFR-TKIs) are a cornerstone of m-ccRCC treatment, and new treatments targeting HIF-2α are currently under investigation. However, predictive biomarkers for these treatments are lacking. In this retrospective cohort study including 109 patients treated with VEGFR-targeted therapies as first-line treatment, we aimed to study the possible predictive function of microRNAs (miRNAs) targeting HIF-2α, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2. We selected miRNAs inversely correlated with HIF-2α, VEGFR1 and/or VEGFR2 expression and with predicted target sites in the respective genes and subsequently studied their impact on therapeutic outcomes. We identified four miRNAs (miR-34c-5p, miR-221-3p, miR-222-3p and miR-3529-3p) inversely correlated with VEGFR1 and/or VEGFR2 expression and associated with tumor shrinkage and progression-free survival (PFS) upon treatment with VEGFR-TKIs, highlighting the potential predictive value of these miRNAs. Moreover, we identified three miRNAs (miR-185-5p, miR-223-3p and miR-3529-3p) inversely correlated with HIF-2α expression and associated with tumor shrinkage and PFS upon treatment with VEGFR-TKIs. These three miRNAs can have a predictive value not only upon treatment with VEGFR-TKIs but possibly also upon treatment with the upcoming HIF-2α inhibitor belzutifan.