Comprehensive Analysis of CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein Family in Ovarian Cancer.

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.