IL20RB is a Prognostically Significant Gene and a Potential Biomarker in Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma

Background Papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) is the second most common type of renal cancer after clear cell renal cell carcinoma. While diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for pRCC often draw on experiences from clear cell renal cell carcinoma, specific targets for diagnosis and treatment remain elusive. IL20RB, the interleukin 20 receptor subunit β, plays a crucial role in IL20R heterodimerization. Initially associated with a variety of skin diseases, recent studies have implicated IL20RB in various malignancies, yet its role in pRCC remains unclear. Methods Prognostic value was determined using the TCGA database and GEPIA, with validation through the analysis of our center’s samples. Subsequent, survival analysis of pRCC patients with high and low IL20RB expression was conducted using R software (version 4.2.1). To further understand the function of IL20RB in pRCC, immune infiltration analysis as well as KEGG/GO enrichment analysis were performed using TRNA sequencing expression profiles from the TCGA database. Protein-protein interactions (PPI) between IL20RB and other proteins in human species were explored using the STRING (String-db.org) database, and drug sensitivity analysis was conducted using the GDSC database. Results Our results revealed specific expression of IL20RB in pRCC tumor tissues, with high expression associated with a poorer prognosis and significantly positively correlated with clinical features. Additionlly, IL20RB may function as a cytokine receptor involved in the immune-inflammatory response in the pRCC microenvironment. Conclusions IL20RB plays an important role in pRCC and may serve as a potential prognostic oncogene, offering a potential target for future therapeutic interventions.