IKBKB expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma is associated with tumor grade and patient outcomes.

Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B kinase subunit B (IKBKB or IKKβ) is a key activator of the nuclear factor κB transcription factor pathway. Increased expression and/or aberrant activity of IKBKB have been observed in various types of human cancer. Three independent techniques, reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and immunohistochemistry, were used to demonstrate that IKBKB expression is decreased in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Notably, the patients with upregulated IKBKB protein expression were characterized by higher nuclear grade tumors and significantly shorter survival. The findings indicate that IKBKB protein may be of clinical relevance in ccRCC, serving as a marker of poor prognosis and as potential target for adjuvant chemotherapies. Further studies are required to validate the prognostic and predictive value of IKBKB.

Oncology reports. 2018 Nov 19 [Epub ahead of print]

Bartlomiej E Krazinski, Anna E Kowalczyk, Agnieszka Sliwinska-Jewsiewicka, Jedrzej Grzegrzolka, Janusz Godlewski, Przemyslaw Kwiatkowski, Piotr Dziegiel, Zbigniew Kmiec, Jolanta Kiewisz

Department of Human Histology and Embryology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10‑082 Olsztyn, Poland., Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Division of Histology and Embryology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50‑368 Wroclaw, Poland.