Genetic variants in MAPK10 modify renal cell carcinoma susceptibility and clinical outcomes

Aims: The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades integrate various upstream signals to regulate many cellular functions, including proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Dysregulation of these pathways has been implicated in the occurrence and progression of a variety of cancers. Main methods: This study aimed to assess the association of 192 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 22 MAPK cascade genes with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) risk and survival in 312 patients and 318 controls. Key findings: After multiple testing correction and multivariate analysis, the minor T allele of MAPK10 rs12648265 remained associated with a lower risk of RCC (adjusted odds ratio 0.64, 95% confidence interval 0.50–0.82, P = 0.000426) and metastasis (adjusted hazard ratio 0.50, 95% confidence interval 0.30–0.82, P = 0.006). Presence of the rs12648265 T allele demonstrated a trend towards being associated with increased MAPK10 expression, and meta-analysis of four RCC datasets indicated that high MAPK10 expression is associated with a favourable prognosis. Furthermore, activation of MAPK10 by the potent agonist anisomycin inhibited RCC cell growth in vitro, suggesting an involvement of MAPK10 in RCC progression. Significance: In conclusion, MAPK10 may be a meaningful biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in RCC.