A novel subtype to predict prognosis and treatment response with DNA driver methylation-transcription in ovarian cancer

Tweetable abstract A novel multiomics subtype based on DNA driver methylation provides insights into ovarian cancer prognostic prediction and precision medicine according to a new study by researchers at Harbin Medical University. Plain language summary Ovarian cancer is a highly malignant gynecological disease. The high heterogeneity of ovarian cancer may contribute to chemotherapy resistance and immunotherapy insensitivity. Gene alterations and aberrant methylation occur in the process of tumor initiation and progression, but not all alterations are drivers of tumor development. In this study, we aim to find the DNA driver methylation (DNAme) that plays a decisive role in ovarian cancer development and obtain a novel multiomics molecular subtype related to DNAme integrated by multiple omics information. We identified 43 overlapping DNAme in three cohorts. The multiomics subtype associated with DNAme could predict ovarian cancer prognosis and treatment response. Aims: To identify a novel subtype with DNA driver methylation-transcriptomic multiomics and predict prognosis and therapy response in serous ovarian cancer (SOC). Methods: SOC cohorts with both mRNA and methylation were collected, and DNA driver methylation (DNAme) was identified with the MithSig method. A novel prognostic subtype was developed by integrating the information on DNAme and prognosis-regulated DNAme-associated mRNA by similarity network fusion. Results: 43 overlapped DNAme were identified in three independent cohorts. SOC patients were categorized into three distinct subtypes by integrated multiomics. There were differences in prognosis, tumor microenvironment and response to therapy among the subtypes. Conclusion: This study identified 43 DNAmes and proposes a novel subtype toward personalized chemotherapy and immunotherapy for SOC patients based on multiomics.