Classification and Clinical Value of Three Immune Subtypes of Ovarian Cancer Based on Transcriptome Data

Abstract

Background: Abundant evidence suggests that tumor immune infiltration was involved in the occurrence of ovarian cancer (OvCa). Current studies have demonstrated the effect of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) on OvCa development; few studies have found the immune genomic profile and immune subclasses of OvCa based on transcriptome data, which may help to optimally stratify patients who respond to immunotherapy.Methods: Based on the two publicly available OvCa transcriptomics data, three immunogenomic subgroups were classified using unsupervised hierarchical clustering. The GO and KEGG were analyzed in each subtype. Response to immunotherapy and anti-cancer drug targets was predicted by the TIDE, Submap algorithm, and GDSC dataset.Results: The three types of immunogenomic OvCa subsets were classified based on immune signatures. We identified three OvCa subtypes, termed hyperimmunogenic (Immunity_H), moderately immunogenic (Immunity_M), and hypoimmunogenic (Immunity_L). Each subtype has specific pathways. In the Immunity_H subtype, a number of cancer-related and immune-related pathways are overactivated. In contrast, the Immunity_L subtype is predominantly enriched in lipid metabolism. Immunity_H subtype has higher immune cell infiltration, antitumor immunoreactivity, and better survival prognosis compared to other subtypes. Predicted clinical response to immune checkpoint blockade was used by Submap and TIDE algorithm and screened potential chemotherapeutic drug targets for OvCa was employed using GDSC. After the prediction for potential drug targets, we identified several potential drug targets for the treatment of OvCa, including Parthenolide and AKT inhibitor VIII, Paclitaxel. Also,Immunity_H subgroup has an early FIGO stage, and was susceptible to respond to immunotherapy.Conclusions: The characterization of immune-based OvCa subgroups possessed potential clinical implications for OvCa treatment and has the potential to guide personalized treatment of OvCa patients through immunotherapy.