Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common kidney malignancy, with a poor prognosis for advanced-stage patients. Identifying key biomarkers involved in tumor progression is crucial for improving treatment outcomes. In this study, we employed an integrated approach combining single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA sequencing (bulk RNA-seq) to identify biomarkers associated with ccRCC progression and prognosis. Single-cell transcriptomic data were obtained from publicly available datasets, and genes related to tumor progression were screened using Monocle2. Bulk RNA-seq data for ccRCC were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and integrated with scRNA-seq data to explore tumor heterogeneity. We identified 3 beta-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase type 7 (HSD3B7) as a candidate biomarker for ccRCC, associated with poor overall survival, disease-specific survival, and progression-free interval. Elevated HSD3B7 expression correlated with aggressive clinical features such as advanced TNM stages, histologic grades, and metastasis. Functional studies demonstrated that HSD3B7 promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, while its silencing significantly inhibits tumor growth in vivo. Our findings reveal that HSD3B7 is a novel biomarker for ccRCC, providing insights into its role in tumor progression and potential as a target for therapy. This study highlights the value of integrating scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq data to uncover key regulators of tumor biology and lays the foundation for developing personalized therapeutic strategies for ccRCC patients.