Transl Oncol. 2026 Apr 3;67:102748. doi: 10.1016/j.tranon.2026.102748. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) encompasses five major histological subtypes with marked genetic, immunological, and clinical heterogeneity. While genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified subtype-specific risk loci, a critical gap remains in understanding how plasma proteins influence immune-cell traits and contribute to EOC pathogenesis.

METHODS: We integrated subtype-stratified GWAS data from two EOC cohorts with plasma proteomics and immune-cell traits to construct protein-immune-EOC regulatory landscapes using a three-stage Mendelian randomization framework. Single-cell RNA-seq and multiplex immunofluorescence were employed to delineate the cellular distribution and spatial context of causal proteins. Subsequent analyses characterized immune infiltration, macrophage polarization, and clinicopathological associations. Drug-gene correlations were used to identify potential therapeutic targets, and transcriptomic analyses were applied to delineate the underlying transcriptional landscape.

RESULTS: We identified 20 subtype-specific protein-immune-EOC regulatory axes, with FCGR2B emerging as a causal plasma protein in immune regulation and high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) progression. FCGR2B was highly expressed in tumor-associated macrophages and was associated with an M2-like polarization phenotype. Functional characterization revealed that FCGR2B was associated with shorter progression-free survival and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Transcriptomic analyses revealed altered NF-κB signaling upon FCGR2B knockdown, and drug-response data suggested a potential association between high FCGR2B expression and sensitivity to NF-κB inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings delineate subtype-specific genetically informed protein-immune regulatory landscapes in EOC and identify FCGR2B as a key immunoregulatory and prognostic biomarker in HGSOC, suggesting FCGR2B as a potential therapeutic vulnerability that warrants further investigation.

PMID:41934917 | DOI:10.1016/j.tranon.2026.102748