Affiliation:
1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Key Clinical Specialty of Gynecology, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
2. Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, People’s Republic of China
Abstract
Background: Ovarian cancer has brought serious threats to female health. CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) are key transcription factors involved in ovarian cancer. Therefore, comprehensive profiling C/EBPs in ovarian cancer is needed. Methods: A comprehensive analysis concerning C/EBPs in ovarian cancer was performed. Firstly, detailed expression of C/EBP family members was integrally retrieved and then confirmed using immunohistochemistry. The regulatory effects and transcription regulatory functions of C/EBPs were studied by using regulatory network analysis and enrichment analysis. Using survival analysis, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and target-disease association analysis, the predictive prognostic value of C/EBPs on survival and drug responsiveness was systematically evaluated. The effects of C/EBPs on tumor immune infiltration were also assessed. Results: Ovarian cancer tissues expressed increased CEBPA, CEBPB, and CEBPG but decreased CEBPD when compared with normal control tissues. The overall alteration frequency of C/EBPs in ovarian cancer was approaching 30%. C/EBP family members formed a reciprocal regulatory network involving carcinogenesis and had pivotal transcription regulatory functions. C/EBPs could affect survival of ovarian cancer and correlated with poor survival outcomes (OS: HR = 1.40, P = .0053 and PFS: HR = 1.41, P = .0036). Besides, expression of CEBPA, CEBPB, CEBPD, and CEBPE could predict platinum and taxane responsiveness of ovarian cancer. C/EBPs also affected immune infiltration of ovarian cancer. Conclusions: C/EBPs were closely involved in ovarian cancer and exerted multiple biological functions. C/EBPs could be exploited as prognostic and predictive biomarkers in ovarian cancer.
Funder
National Key Clinical Specialty of Gynecology - First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province
National Natural Science Foundation of China
High-level Personnel Introduction Fund of the First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province
Doctoral Research Fund Program of the First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province
Yunnan Provincial Clinical Medical Center for Reproductive, Gynecological and Obstetrical Diseases
Basic Research Project of Yunnan Province