Fig. 3: Characterization of the four tumor-specific TFs.

a Kaplan–Meier analyses of overall survival in TCGA-KIRC patients separated by HOXC5, VENTX, ISL1, and OTP expression (with the median value as the threshold) individually. HR, hazard ratio. b TF regulatory network showing the candidate target genes for the following TFs: HOXC5, VENTX, ISL1, and OTP in tumor cells. c The effects of sh-HOXC5, VENTX, ISL1, OTP, and vector on cell proliferation were determined by a cell proliferation assay in the 786-O cell line. d HOXC5, VENTX, ISL1, and OTP mRNA expression were significantly downregulated in the 786-O cell line. Significance was determined by two-way ANOVA. e Heatmap showing the degree of decrease in expression levels of VENTX, ISL1, and HOXC5 after drug treatment. f Cell proliferation was assessed over a 2-day time course after treatment with DMSO or HHT in the 786-O (top) and 769-P (bottom) ccRCC cell lines. Significance was determined by multiple t-tests. g The mRNA levels of HOXC5 after treatment with DMSO or HHT in the 786-O (left) and 769-P (right) ccRCC cell lines were measured using qPCR. Significance was determined by Student’s t-test. h Cell proliferation was assessed over a 2-day time course after treatment with DMSO or mitotane in the 786-O (top) and 769-P (bottom) ccRCC cell lines. Significance was determined by multiple t-tests. i The mRNA levels of VENTX after treatment with DMSO or mitotane in the 786-O (left) and 769-P (right) ccRCC cell lines were measured using qPCR. Significance was determined by Student’s t-test. j The mRNA levels of ISL1 after treatment with DMSO or mitotane in the 786-O (left) and 769-P (right) ccRCC cell lines were measured using qPCR. Significance was determined by Student’s t-test. For all statistical tests, *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001.