TEK and glaucoma: Given these observations, this study was designed to address three interconnected objectives: first, to investigate the potential causal relationship between glaucoma and RCC risk; second, to identify and functionally validate glaucoma-associated genes dysregulated in RCC, with a particular focus on TEK; and third, to evaluate the therapeutic potential of shikonin in targeting TEK and suppressing RCC progression via modulation of glaucoma-related signaling.