DLST--a Cuproptosis-related Gene--is a Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Factor for Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) accounts for the highest number of renal malignancies and 3% of all adult cancers. The incidence of ccRCC is increasing worldwide, and its prognosis is poor. Approximately 30% of the patients are diagnosed at a late stage and are frequently asymptomatic. Cuproptosis is a new type of cell death that is regulated by Cu ions. As cuproptosis is associated with cancer development, we hypothesized that changes in the expression of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) are associated with the prognosis of ccRCC, and that CRGs can serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of ccRCC. In the present study, we explored the correlation between CRGs and ccRCC prognosis by analyzing publicly available data. We analyzed the clinical information and RNA-sequencing data in The Cancer Genome Atlas using bioinformatics tools. Dihydrolipoamide S-succinyltransferase (DLST) was identified as a novel gene with predictive and diagnostic potential. CRGs were under-expressed in ccRCC samples, and downregulation of DLST was highly associated with poor prognosis. Cox univariate and multivariate regression analyses revealed that DLST could serve as an independent prognostic factor for ccRCC. Further, functional enrichment analysis indicated that low expression of DLST may affect immune function. Our results strongly indicate that DLST plays an important role in ccRCC progression and may serve as an independent diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for ccRCC. Therefore, DLST is a potential therapeutic target for patients with ccRCC.