Cuproptosis identifies respiratory subtype of renal cancer that confers favorable prognosis

Cuproptosis is a newly discovered cell death induced by excessive copper in mitochondria distinct from any known forms of apoptosis. Role of cuproptosis has not been well-reported in cancer, especially in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). We comprehensively interrogated cuproptotic gene signature in ccRCC by reproducing multi-omics datasets and found cuproptosis was decreased in ccRCC compared with normal kidney. Cuproptosis identified a subgroup with significantly better prognosis. Functional annotation supported increased tricarboxylic acid cycle activity and decreased hypoxia signaling corroborated by metabolomics. Cuproptotic tumors showed decreased angiogenesis but were sensitive to Sunitinib and Sorafenib. Cuproptotic level in ccRCC cell lines showed robust negative correlation with copper ionophore Elesclomol. All findings support a respiratory subtype of ccRCC identified by cuproptosis.