Identification of a Combined Immune- and Metabolism- Related Prognostic Signature for Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Abstract A typically observed form of malignancy within the urological system is clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) which is the major histological subtype of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) that develops from the proximal convoluted tubules. Despite ongoing efforts to develop effective treatments for ccRCC, it remains a significant challenge in the field of oncology, and further studies are required to fully understand this complex disease. Tumor biology has recently shown increasing interest in immune evasion and metabolic reprogramming, which are crucial to tumor initiation and progression. Despite this, an all-inclusive analysis of genes linked to combined metabolism and immunity in ccRCC is not yet available. This study establishes a prognostic signature that relates to the tumor microenvironment (TME) by utilizing nine immune- and metabolism-related genes (IMRGs). The findings of the study revealed that the IMRGs-based prognostic signature excelled over previously published signatures that relied solely on either immune- or metabolism-related genes to predict ccRCC outcomes, thus underscoring its robustness and reliability. Furthermore, a predictive tool in the form of a nomogram was developed, utilizing both the IMRGs prognostic signature and a range of clinical parameters. The differences observed in immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint expression, and immunophenoscore (IPS) between the high- and low-risk groups classified by our model were significantly notable. It can be concluded that the IMRGs signature holds immense potential for accurately predicting prognostic risks, evaluating the efficacy of immunotherapy, and facilitating personalized treatment regimens for patients with ccRCC.