Pan-cancer analysis of polo-like kinase family genes reveals polo-like kinase 1 as a novel oncogene in kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma

Abstract Background: Polo-like kinases (PLKs) are a kinase class of serine/threonine with five members that play crucial roles in cell cycle regulation. However, their biological functions, regulation, and expression remain unclear. This study revealed the molecular properties, oncogenic role, and clinical significance of PLK genes in pan-cancers, particularly in kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (KIRP). Methods: We evaluated the mutation landscape, expression level, and prognostic values of PLK genes using bioinformatics analyses and explored the association between the expression level