Mitophagy related gene signature for prognosis and therapeutic evaluation in KIRC

This study conducted a comprehensive investigation of the prognostic significance and immunological features associated with mitophagy-related gene signatures in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (KIRC). Our primary aim was to establish an optimized predictive model for precise prognosis stratification and treatment response prediction in KIRC patients. Through LASSO Cox regression analysis, we systematically identified mitophagy-related genes (MRGs) and implemented them to develop a prognostic risk stratification model. The model's reliability was rigorously validated using both internal cohorts and independent external datasets. We subsequently constructed a clinically applicable nomogram by integrating the risk score with established prognostic indicators and relevant clinical parameters, thereby enabling multidimensional risk evaluation. Notably, tumor microenvironment characterization revealed enhanced immunotherapeutic responsiveness in high-risk patients, highlighting potential clinical utility for treatment selection. Complementary in vitro functional assays demonstrated that METTL24 overexpression significantly suppressed KIRC cell proliferation and migration capacity. Collectively, our mitophagy-related gene signature represents a novel prognostic biomarker with substantial clinical relevance, offering valuable insights for personalized therapeutic strategies in KIRC management. These findings not only advance our understanding of KIRC pathogenesis but also provide a framework for developing precision medicine approaches to optimize clinical outcomes.