Macrophage-Specific Cathepsin as a Marker Correlated with Prognosis and Tumor Microenvironmental Characteristics of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Macrophage-specific CTSZ was associated with activation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cell cycle signatures, and a higher infiltration level of B cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells in the tumor microenvironment. High expression of CTSZ could be considered as a prognostic and treatment response biomarker for patients with ccRCC receiving anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.