Identification of ADH1C and MZB1 as Potential Ultrasound-Modulated Biomarkers for Diagnosis,Prognosis,and Immune Microenvironment Profiling in Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Background:

Although alcohol dehydrogenase 1 C (ADH1C) and marginal zone B and B1 cell-specific protein (MZB1) have shown promise as biomarkers for various cancers, little is known about their clinical importance in ovarian cancer (OV), especially when it comes to ultrasound-based therapy modulation. In addition to assessing the wider significance of ADH1C and MZB1 by pan-cancer analysis, this study explores the diagnostic, prognostic, and immune-microenvironment implications of these molecules in OV.

Methods:

Differentially expressed genes linked to OV development and patient risk profiles were found by analyzing transcriptomic and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and GTEx. ADH1C and MZB1’s prognostic significance was evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. The relationship between gene expression and the OV tumor immune microenvironment was examined using ESTIMATE and ssGSEA. Age, stage, and surgical residual disease were among the clinicopathologic relationships that were investigated. In addition to mutation profiling of the most changed genes in OV, immune-related indicators (microsatellite instability [MSI], tumor mutational burden [TMB], and RNAss stemness) were compared between ADH1C-high and ADH1C-low groups to assess genomic heterogeneity. A thorough pan-cancer analysis further examined gene expression patterns and correlations with tumor immunity and RNA modification pathways. By looking at biomarker pathways that are known to react to mechanical or sonodynamic manipulation, relevance to ultrasound-based therapy was deduced.

Results:

While MZB1 was downregulated and acted as a protective factor, ADH1C was markedly increased and found to be a risk factor in advanced-stage OV. Poorer progression-free interval, disease-specific survival, and overall survival were all linked to high ADH1C expression. On the contrary, better clinical results were indicated by higher MZB1. Both genes showed significant associations with immunoregulatory pathways and immune-infiltrating cell types. Age, tumor stage, and residual disease were all significantly correlated with ADH1C expression. Increased MSI, TMB, and stemness characteristics were seen in ADH1C-high patients, suggesting genomic instability. ADH1C and MZB1 are differently expressed in a variety of cancers and are closely associated with immunological activity and RNA modification patterns, according to the pan-cancer study. This suggests that they may be susceptible to ultrasound-mediated biological modulation.

Conclusions:

For the diagnosis, prognosis, and immune-microenvironment profiling of OV, ADH1C and MZB1 are clinically significant biomarkers. Their potential utility in ultrasound-enhanced therapy techniques for OV and other malignancies is supported by their relationship with immunological signaling, genomic stability, and cancer-progression pathways, suggesting that they may function as ultrasound-modulated molecular targets.