GRIM-19 deficiency promotes clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression and is associated with high TNM stage and Fuhrman grade.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) exhibits the highest mortality among all urological malignancies. The investigation of the potential disease progression markers can improve ccRCC diagnosis and treatment. Gene associated with retinoid-interferon-induced mortality-19 (GRIM-19) is involved in carcinogenesis and cancer progression in a variety of cancer types including RCC. While, its role in ccRCC remains unclear, this cancer type is considered the most aggressive RCC subtype. In the present study, RT-qPCR, western blotting and immunohistochemical (IHC) assays demonstrated that GRIM-19 protein and mRNA levels were downregulated in ccRCC tumor tissues compared with the corresponding levels noted in paracancerous non-tumor tissues. The deficiency of this protein contributed in relaxed and/or collapsed structures of the kidney tubules and collecting duct noted in tumor tissues. Moreover, the reduction in GRIM-19 expression was associated with high tumor, lymph nodes and metastasis (TNM) stage and Fuhrman grade of ccRCC tumors. The data suggested that GRIM-19 acted as a tumor suppressor and that its deficiency promoted ccRCC development and progression. GRIM-19 can be considered a potential tumor marker for ccRCC.