PTK6: An emerging biomarker for prognosis and immunotherapeutic response in clear cell renal carcinoma (KIRC)

Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC), one of the most prevalent form of kidney carcinoma, is highly aggressive cancer known for significant immune infiltration and high mortality rates. The absence of sensitivity to traditional therapy has spurred the search for new treatments. Protein Tyrosine Kinase 6 (PTK6) is implicated in promoting cancer growth, spread, and metastasis. Our review of The Cancer Genome Atlas database revealed PTK6 overexpression in KIRC, though its specific role in this cancer type was unclear. We investigated PTK6's cancer-promoting roles in KIRC using the database and confirmed our findings with patient-derived tissues. Our analysis showed that elevated PTK6 expression is linked to worse outcomes and higher levels of immune infiltration. It also correlates positively with neo-antigens (NEO) and DNA ploidy changes in KIRC. This research delves into PTK6's role in KIRC development, suggesting PTK6 as a possible biomarker for prognosis and treatment in KIRC.