Identification of a G-protein coupled receptor-related gene signature through bioinformatics analysis to construct a risk model for ovarian cancer prognosis

Ovarian cancer (OV) is a common malignant tumor of the female reproductive system with a 5-year survival rate of ∼30 %. Inefficient early diagnosis and prognosis leads to poor survival in most patients. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs, the largest family of human cell surface receptors) are associated with OV. We aimed to identify GPCR-related gene (GPCRRG) signatures and develop a novel model to predict OV prognosis. We downloaded data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Prognostic GPCRRGs were screened using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis, and a prognostic model was constructed. The predictive ability of the model was evaluated by Kaplan–Meier (K-M) survival analysis. The levels of GPCRRGs were examined in normal and OV cell lines using quantitative reverse-Etranscription polymerase chain reaction. The immunological characteristics of the high- and low-risk groups were analyzed using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) and CIBERSORT. Based on the risks scores, 17 GPCRRGs were associated with OV prognosis. CXCR4, GPR34, LGR6, LPAR3, and RGS2 were significantly expressed in three OV datasets and enabled accurate OV diagnosis. K-M analysis of the prognostic model showed that it could differentiate high- and low-risk patients, which correspond to poorer and better prognoses, respectively. GPCRRG expression was correlated with immune infiltration rates. Our prognostic model elaborates on the roles of GPCRRGs in OV and provides a new tool for prognosis and immune response prediction in patients with OV. •GPCRRGs were hypothesized to correlate to OV prognosis and serve as markers.•A prognostic model was established using LASSO regression and validated.•CXCR4, GPR34, LGR6, LPAR3, and RGS2 effectively predicted OV prognosis.•Prognostic utility of CXCR4 was significantly higher than that of other genes.•Our GPCRRG-based model provides insights into targets for, and prognosis in, OV.