The Role of the PAX Genes in Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a significant oncological challenge due to its heterogeneous nature and limited treatment options. The developmental gene family encodes nine highly conserved transcription factors that play crucial roles in embryonic development and organogenesis, which have been implicated in the occurrence and development of RCC. This review explores the molecular landscape of RCC, with a specific focus on the role of the gene family in RCC tumorigenesis and disease progression. Of the various RCC subtypes, clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most prevalent, characterized by the loss of the von Hippel-Lindau () tumor suppressor gene. Here, we review the published literature on the expression patterns and functional implications of genes, particularly and , in the three most common RCC subtypes, including ccRCC, papillary RCC (PRCC), and chromophobe RCC (ChRCC). Further, we review the interactions and potential biological mechanisms involving genes and loss in driving the pathogenesis of RCC, including the key signaling pathways mediated by in ccRCC and associated mechanisms implicating . Lastly, concurrent with our update regarding gene research in RCC, we review and comment on the targeting of towards the development of novel RCC therapies.