Comprehensive Analysis of DMRT3 as a Potential Biomarker Associated with the Immune Infiltration in a Pan-Cancer Analysis and Validation in Lung Adenocarcinoma

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Doublesex and Mab-3 related Transcription Factor 3 (DMRT3) is associated with the prognosis of some tumors. It is possible to explore the mechanisms and functions of the DMRT3 gene in the cancer process, using bioinformatic approaches and experimental validation. We comprehensively explored the clinical and immunological characteristics of DMRT3. We identified that DMRT3 was aberrantly expressed in pan-cancer and may promote tumorigenesis and progression via different mechanisms. DMRT3 can be used as a therapeutic target to treat cancer in humans. ABSTRACT: Doublesex and Mab-3 related Transcription Factor 3 (DMRT3) is associated with the prognosis of some tumors. It is possible to explore the role of DMRT3 in the cancer process using bioinformatic approaches and experimental validation. We comprehensively explored the clinical and immunological characteristics of DMRT3. The DMRT3 expression is abnormal in human cancers and correlates with clinical staging. A high DMRT3 expression is significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS) in KIRC, KIRP, LUAD, and UCEC. Amplification was the greatest frequency of the DMRT3 alterations in pan-cancer. The OS was significantly lower in the DMRT3 altered group than in the DMRT3 unaltered group (P = 0.0276). The DMRT3 expression was significantly associated with MSI in three cancer types and TMB in six cancer types. The DMRT3 expression was significantly correlated with the level of the immune cell infiltration and the immune checkpoint genes. The DMRT3 was involved in some pathways in pan-cancer. DMRT3 may play a role in chemotherapy and may be associated with chemoresistance. A ceRNA network of KCNQ1OT1/miR-335-5p/DMRT3 was constructed in LUAD. DMRT3 was significantly upregulated in the LUAD cell lines. DMRT3 was aberrantly expressed in pan-cancer and may promote tumorigenesis and progression via different mechanisms. DMRT3 can be used as a therapeutic target to treat cancer in humans.