PDZ-binding Kinase (PBK) as a Potential Biomarker and Therapeutic Target for Metastatic Pheochromocytomas and Paragangliomas
Authors' conclusion
PBK serves as a novel metastasis-related biomarker and a promising therapeutic target in PPGLs. Incorporation of the PBK index into risk models may refine metastasis prediction.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with PPGL in public transcriptome datasets and clinical cohorts; PC-12 cells in vitro
- Outcome
- PBK and metastasis in PPGL
Methodological detailsbioinformatic analyses of public transcriptomes, validation in clinical PPGL cohorts, multivariate logistic regression, in vitro assays in PC-12 cells
- Bioinformatic analyses of public transcriptomes
- Validation in clinical PPGL cohorts
- Multivariate logistic regression
- In vitro assays in PC-12 cells
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
PBK index independent predictor of metastasis after adjustment for established risk factors (OR)
1.40
P = .016
PBK index ≥ 3% combined with established predictors, AUC
0.951
Further findings
In vitro effects of PBK silencing in PC-12 cells
- PBK silencing significantly impaired cell viability, with S phase arrest and upregulation of p53 and p21
- PBK silencing suppressed migration and invasion by downregulating matrix metalloproteinase 2/9, disrupting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and MAPK, Rap1 and TGF-β signaling
Original publication
PBK as a Potential Biomarker and Therapeutic Target for Metastatic Pheochromocytomas and Paragangliomas. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 25 October 2025. doi:10.
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