Comprehensive analysis of selenoprotein gene expression and prognostic value in ovarian cancer.

Objective: To comprehensively analyze the expression and prognostic value of selenoprotein in ovarian cancer (OV).

Materials and methods: GEPIA and cBioPortal were used to analyze selenoprotein expression and mutations and copy number variations. Kaplan-Meier plotter and the tumor immune estimation resource were used to evaluate the impact of these genes on clinical prognosis and their correlation with tumor immune infiltration.

Results: Compared with normal tissues, the expression of iodothyronine deiodinase 3 (DIO3), glutathione peroxidase 4, SECISBP2, SELM, and SELP was decreased in the four gynecological malignancies. In OV, selenoprotein had the highest number of mutations (309) and mutation frequency (52.91%), whereas the lowest was observed in endometrial cancer (29.72%). DIO3, selenoprotein O (SELO), and selenoprotein T (SELT) are significantly related to the prognosis of OV. Immune infiltration analysis showed that DIO3 was associated with tumor-associated macrophages, SELO with CD4+ T-cells and monocytes, and SELT with T-cells. Enrichment analysis revealed that DIO3 is mainly involved in inflammatory immune responses and the Ras signaling pathway, SELO is primarily related to innate immune responses, and SELT is closely associated with mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.

Conclusion: This study explored the expression characteristics of 25 selenoprotein in patients with gynecological malignancies and found that DIO3, SELO, and SELT were significantly associated with the prognosis and clinical features of OV, which are potential therapeutic targets.