Identification of LILRB4 as a regulator of M2c macrophages and a potential immunotherapeutic target in ovarian cancer.

Introduction: Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecological malignancy. A deeper insight into tumor microenvironment (TME) interactions is essential for developing novel therapeutic approaches. leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B4 (LILRB4) is a receptor involved in multiple biological and pathological processes in hematological malignancies; however, its role in the progression of solid tumors remains largely unexplored. In particular, the function within the OC is still unclear. Methods: We systematically investigated the expression profile of LILRB4 in OC, along with its regulatory effects on OC cells, its role in immune cell modulation, and its potential as an immunotherapeutic target, using bioinformatics analyses, Results: We found that LILRB4 is the most highly expressed member of the LILRB family in OC, with significantly higher expression in tumor tissues than in normal ovarian tissues, and its elevated expression was associated with poor patient survival. Discussion: These findings identify LILRB4 as a key regulator of tumor progression and immune evasion in OC. High LILRB4 expression is associated with an immunosuppressive TME and poor response to immunotherapy, highlighting its potential as both a prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target.