PRC1 as an independent adverse prognostic factor in Wilms tumor via integrated bioinformatics and experimental validation

Wilms Tumor (WT), a prevalent pediatric renal malignancy, exhibits marked heterogeneity and variable clinical outcomes. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a biological process enabling epithelial cells to acquire mesenchymal traits associated with enhanced migratory and invasive capacities, plays a crucial role in cancer progression. Protein Regulator of Cytokinesis 1 (PRC1) is a critical protein in cell division, whose overexpression is linked to poor prognosis in various cancers. This study investigates the role of PRC1 as a key prognostic factor in WT and explore the mechanism through comprehensive bioinformatic and experimental approaches. Through bulk RNA-seq data from the TARGET database, we identified PRC1 as significantly up-regulated in WT and associated with poor overall survival. Functional enrichment analyses (GO, KEGG, GSEA) demonstrated PRC1's involvement in cell division, chromatin dynamics, and activation of oncogenic pathways including Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and Hedgehog signaling. Immunological analysis showed that elevated PRC1 expression correlates with diminished immune cell activity, particularly in NK cells, suggesting potential immune evasion mechanisms. Single-cell RNA-seq analysis (GSE200256) confirmed PRC1's elevated expression in anaplastic Wilms tumor (AWT) compared to favorable Wilms tumor (FWT), and highlighted its involvement in intercellular communication and metastasis via the EMT process. Genomic analyses identified copy number variations (CNVs) and downregulated PRC1-targeting microRNAs as drivers of its overexpression. In vitro, PRC1 knockdown in WIT-49 cells significantly impaired migratory capacity, invasive potential, EMT progression, and glycolytic metabolism. These findings collectively position PRC1 as a promising therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker in WT.