Significance of PTEN Mutation in Cellular Process, Prognosis, and Drug Selection in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

It is well established that the PTEN (Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog) mutant is a frequently mutated gene found in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), making it a potential biomarker for individualized treatment opinions. Here, in the present study, we designed a method to evaluate the significance of the PTEN mutation in the prognosis and drug selection of ccRCC, determine the potential changing pathways and genes associated with the mechanisms. The most recent TCGA data shows that the PTEN mutation is found in 5% of ccRCC patients. In total, 2,569 genes were identified as DEGs. GO and KEGG analysis suggested that DEGs were significantly enriched in categories associated with cell division and multiple metabolic progressions. The top 10 genes, ranked by degree, were identified as hub genes from the protein–protein interaction network (PPI). What is more, patients with the PTEN mutation were associated with a worsened prognosis of ccRCC. Data from the GDSC database indicated that the selective AKT inhibitor, GSK690693, is a selective inhibitor for ccRCC with the PTEN mutation. Our findings have indicated that multiple genes and pathways may play a crucial role in PTEN mutation ccRCC, offering candidate targets and strategies for PTEN mutation ccRCC individualized treatment.