Background Copy number variations (CNVs) are related to the genetic and phenotypic diversity among cancers. Identifying genetic alterations of ovarian cancer could benifit treatment strategies. We explored the association of estrogen-related receptor alpha (ESRRA) copy number variation (CNV) in patients with ovarian cancer using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

Methods Gene expression data and clinical infomation were obtained from TCGA for 620 ovarian cancer patients. The association between ESRRA CNV and with clinical characteristics was evaluated by using the TCGA ovarian cancer dataset. Multivariate logistic regression analysis with odds ratio (OR) using a 95% confidence interval (CI) was performed adjusting for race, age, histological grade, and tumor size.

Results ESRRA CNV was associated with histological grade [OR 0.6235 (95% CI, 0.3593 ~ 0.8877) P<0.05] and PPARGC1A CNV [OR -0.6298 (95% CI, -0.9011 ~ -0.3585) P<0.05] in patients with ovarian cancer. On multivariate analysis, ESRRA CNV remained significantly associated with histological grade [OR 0.6492 (95% CI, 0.3549 ~ 0.9435); P<0.05] and PPARGC1A CNV [OR -0.6236 (95% CI, -0.9269 ~ 0.3203); P<0.05].

Conclusions ESRRA CNV in patients with ovarian cancer was associated with histological grade. Futher studies should be conducted to make ESRRA a potential marker for targeted molecular therapy in ovarian cancer.