Transcription factor RUNX2 regulates epithelial‑mesenchymal transition and progression in renal cell carcinomas

Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is difficult to cure once it progresses and metastasizes. Runt‑related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) is associated with the development or progression of various cancers, but its role in RCC remains unclear. The expression of RUNX2 is not only aberrantly increased in ccRCC, but also is increased with increasing tumor stage and pathological grade. The prognosis of patients with tumors expressing RUNX2, which was revealed to be highly expressed in survival analysis, was significantly worse. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that the RUNX2‑mediated epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway promoted tumor progression. In vitro, knockdown of RUNX2 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of RCC, with related proteins in the EMT pathway exhibiting corresponding changes. RUNX2 regulated EMT in RCC to promote tumor progression.