{
  "abstract": "Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common urological malignancy, yet the cytokine landscape of the tumor microenvironment, especially in early-stage tumors, remains poorly defined. Using antibody arrays, 174 tumor-related cytokines were measured in 20 sets of normal, para-cancerous, and tumor tissues from early-stage RCC patients. Selected cytokines were validated by ELISA. Functional enrichment was analyzed via DAVID, while transcriptional expression, survival outcomes, and immune infiltration were assessed using GEPIA, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, and TIMER databases. Thirty-four differentially expressed cytokines were identified in tumors versus controls, enriched in cytokine signaling, TNF, PI3K-Akt, Ras, HIF-1, and Toll-like receptor pathways. ELISA confirmed reduced IL-2, IL-15, IGFBP-2, HGF, ErbB3, and FLT3LG, and increased CCL4, CXCL9, and Angiopoietin-2 in tumors. Serum levels of HGF, ErbB3, and CCL4 were decreased in RCC patients, while urinary ErbB3 was also reduced. IL-2, IL-15, and CCL4 were upregulated in T1-T2 metastatic tumors. Several cytokines correlated with poor survival, except ErbB3, which associated with improved outcomes. Several cytokine-related genes, including CXCL9 and CCL4, correlated with inferred immune cell infiltration patterns. These findings suggest that early-stage RCC may be associated with a cytokine expression profile characterized by reduced immune-stimulating factors and elevated pro-angiogenic and inflammatory signals. Urinary ErbB3 emerged as a candidate non-invasive biomarker requiring further validation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China",
    "RayBiotech, Inc., Peachtree Corners, GeorgiaUnited States of America",
    "RayBiotech, Inc., Guangzhou, Guangdong, China",
    "Department of Urology, Hui Ya Hospital of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Huizhou, Guangdong, China",
    "South China Biochip Research Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China",
    "Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 11,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xu Chen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Zhuangyao Liao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Rochelle Wickramasekara"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Ying Luo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Panning Wang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Sihao Wang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Yunru Chen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hang Zhou"
    },
    {
      "name": "Shuhong Luo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Shaopeng Qiu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ruo-Pan Huang"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b5tda990rz414.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0358533",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "b5tda990rz414",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358533",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2740|Renal cell carcinoma treatment"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Body fluids/Urine"
    ],
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      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Cellular types/Animal cells/Immune cells"
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      "/Biology and life sciences/Developmental biology/Molecular development/Cytokines"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Immunology/Immune cells"
    ],
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      "/Biology and life sciences/Immunology/Immune response/Inflammation"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Immunology/Immune system/Innate immune system/Cytokines"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Body fluids/Urine"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Immune physiology/Cytokines"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Anatomy/Body fluids/Urine"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Clinical medicine/Signs and symptoms/Inflammation"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Immunology/Immune cells"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Immunology/Immune response/Inflammation"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Immunology/Immune system/Innate immune system/Cytokines"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Nephrology/Renal cancer"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancers and neoplasms"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancers and neoplasms/Carcinoma/Renal cell carcinoma"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Oncology/Cancers and neoplasms/Genitourinary tract tumors/Renal cell carcinoma"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Immunologic techniques/Immunoassays/Enzyme-linked immunoassays"
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  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0358533&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-29",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b5tda990rz414.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:37Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0358533",
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      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358533"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:immunology",
      "subfield": "immunology"
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    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:cancers and neoplasms",
      "subfield": "oncology"
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    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:anatomy",
      "subfield": "physiology"
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  "title": "Tumor specific cytokine pattern explored in renal cell carcinoma",
  "title_text": "Tumor specific cytokine pattern explored in renal cell carcinoma",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:37Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b5tda990rz414",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}