Ju L, et al. - Researchers assessed clinical importance as well as the underlying mechanism of δ-catenin [alternatively known as CTNND2 or NPRAP (neural plakophilin-related armadillo protein)] expression in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). By analyzing 28 clinical specimens of paired renal cancer tissues and normal renal tissues, via Western blot analysis, they noted the protein expression of δ-catenin in these samples. They also analyzed 58 cases of RCC via immunohistochemistry to determine δ-catenin expression in these cases. High expression of δ-catenin was evident in both clinical samples and cell lines of RCC. A more advanced pTNM stage and tumor stage as well as lymph nodes metastasis was seen in RCC patients with higher δ-catenin expression vs cases with lower expression. In RCC, proliferation promotion and apoptosis inhibition were induced by δ-catenin, via regulating the nuclear translocation of β-catenin and β-catenin-mediated oncogenic signals. By in vivo assay, tumor growth in ACHN cell xenograft mouse model was promoted by δ-catenin. Overall, δ-catenin might be viewed as a new prognostic indicator and actionable target for gene therapy in RCC.