FAM111B Overexpression and Immune Cell Infiltration: Implications for Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy

<b>Background</b>: Ovarian cancer (OC) is characterized by high incidence and mortality rates; however, due to its immunologically “cold” phenotype, the effectiveness of immunotherapy as a strategy for OC remains inadequate. Although the FAM111B gene promotes the progression of various s...

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Main Authors: Wanying Li, Fang Wei, Ting Zhou, Lijuan Feng, Lihong Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Biomedicines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/6/1295
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author Wanying Li
Fang Wei
Ting Zhou
Lijuan Feng
Lihong Zhang
author_facet Wanying Li
Fang Wei
Ting Zhou
Lijuan Feng
Lihong Zhang
author_sort Wanying Li
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background</b>: Ovarian cancer (OC) is characterized by high incidence and mortality rates; however, due to its immunologically “cold” phenotype, the effectiveness of immunotherapy as a strategy for OC remains inadequate. Although the FAM111B gene promotes the progression of various solid tumors, its specific function within the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of OC remains unclear. <b>Methods</b>: This study used multiplex immunofluorescence techniques and bioinformatics analysis to examine the role of FAM111B within the TIME of OC. Through multiplex immunofluorescence, we assessed the protein expression levels of FAM111B alongside key immune cell markers, including FOXP3, CD4, CD8, CD68, CD163, CD66b, and CD11c. Furthermore, we employed bioinformatics methods using The Cancer Genome Atlas database to validate FAM111B function at the mRNA level in OC. <b>Results</b>: We observed a positive correlation between FAM111B expression and immune cell infiltration, including T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. FAM111B, M2 macrophages, and regulatory T cells were associated with poorer overall survival in OC patients. Additionally, specific T cell subsets and dendritic cells were correlated positively with programmed death-ligand 1 expression, while FAM111B levels were linked to multiple immune checkpoint molecules. <b>Conclusions</b>: This study reveals a positive correlation between FAM111B overexpression and the infiltration levels of immune cells in OC. In OC patients characterized by elevated FAM111B expression, the potential augmentation of immune cell infiltration within the TIME may consequently enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy.
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spelling doaj-art-8f9acf41899449bcaf3317a7ba8cbe0d2025-08-20T02:24:35ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-05-01136129510.3390/biomedicines13061295FAM111B Overexpression and Immune Cell Infiltration: Implications for Ovarian Cancer ImmunotherapyWanying Li0Fang Wei1Ting Zhou2Lijuan Feng3Lihong Zhang4Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, ChinaDepartment of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China<b>Background</b>: Ovarian cancer (OC) is characterized by high incidence and mortality rates; however, due to its immunologically “cold” phenotype, the effectiveness of immunotherapy as a strategy for OC remains inadequate. Although the FAM111B gene promotes the progression of various solid tumors, its specific function within the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of OC remains unclear. <b>Methods</b>: This study used multiplex immunofluorescence techniques and bioinformatics analysis to examine the role of FAM111B within the TIME of OC. Through multiplex immunofluorescence, we assessed the protein expression levels of FAM111B alongside key immune cell markers, including FOXP3, CD4, CD8, CD68, CD163, CD66b, and CD11c. Furthermore, we employed bioinformatics methods using The Cancer Genome Atlas database to validate FAM111B function at the mRNA level in OC. <b>Results</b>: We observed a positive correlation between FAM111B expression and immune cell infiltration, including T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. FAM111B, M2 macrophages, and regulatory T cells were associated with poorer overall survival in OC patients. Additionally, specific T cell subsets and dendritic cells were correlated positively with programmed death-ligand 1 expression, while FAM111B levels were linked to multiple immune checkpoint molecules. <b>Conclusions</b>: This study reveals a positive correlation between FAM111B overexpression and the infiltration levels of immune cells in OC. In OC patients characterized by elevated FAM111B expression, the potential augmentation of immune cell infiltration within the TIME may consequently enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/6/1295FAM111Bovarian cancerimmune cell infiltrationtumor immune microenvironmentimmunotherapy
spellingShingle Wanying Li
Fang Wei
Ting Zhou
Lijuan Feng
Lihong Zhang
FAM111B Overexpression and Immune Cell Infiltration: Implications for Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy
Biomedicines
FAM111B
ovarian cancer
immune cell infiltration
tumor immune microenvironment
immunotherapy
title FAM111B Overexpression and Immune Cell Infiltration: Implications for Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy
title_full FAM111B Overexpression and Immune Cell Infiltration: Implications for Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy
title_fullStr FAM111B Overexpression and Immune Cell Infiltration: Implications for Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy
title_full_unstemmed FAM111B Overexpression and Immune Cell Infiltration: Implications for Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy
title_short FAM111B Overexpression and Immune Cell Infiltration: Implications for Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy
title_sort fam111b overexpression and immune cell infiltration implications for ovarian cancer immunotherapy
topic FAM111B
ovarian cancer
immune cell infiltration
tumor immune microenvironment
immunotherapy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/6/1295
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AT tingzhou fam111boverexpressionandimmunecellinfiltrationimplicationsforovariancancerimmunotherapy
AT lijuanfeng fam111boverexpressionandimmunecellinfiltrationimplicationsforovariancancerimmunotherapy
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