Downregulation of ACE2 is associated with advanced pathological features and poor prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the alteration in ACE2 expression and correlation between ACE2 expression and immune infiltration in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Methods: The authors first analyzed the expression profiles and prognostic value of ACE2 in ccRCC patients using The Cancer Genome Atlas public database. The authors used ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms to analyze the correlation between ACE2 expression and tumor microenvironment in ccRCC samples. Results: ACE2 was correlated with sex, distant metastasis, clinical stage, tumor T stage and histological grade. Moreover, downregulation of ACE2 was correlated with unfavorable prognosis. In addition, ACE2 expression was associated with different immune cell subtypes. Conclusion: The authors' analyses suggest that ACE2 plays an important role in the development and progression of ccRCC and may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker in ccRCC patients.