Objective To explore the mechanism of TPT1-AS1 targeting miR-324/TWIST1 axis to regulate the proliferation, invasion, migration and angiogenesis of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cells, thereby affecting ovarian cancer (OC) progression. Methods RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of TPT1-AS1 and miR-324 in 29 OC lesions and adjacent tissue samples. The two OC cell models of TPT1-AS1 overexpression and miRNA324 knockdown were constructed, and the cell proliferation, invasion and migration abilities were detected by CCK-8, Transwell^TM and scratch test. Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression levels of TWIST1, epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), Vimentin, and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) in OC cells. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and RNA pull-down experiments were used to verify the interaction between TPT1-AS1 and miR-324. Immunohistochemistry and Targetscan bioinformatics analysis were used to verify the negative regulatory role of miR-324 in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Results The TPT1-AS1 expression was significantly higher in OC tissues than that in para-cancerous tissues, while the miR-324 expression was significantly lower. In SKOV3 cells with TPT1-AS1 overexpression, the miR-324 expression decreased significantly, and TPT1-AS1 was negatively correlated with miR-324. It was also found that TPT1-AS1 and miR-324 were co-expressed in OC cells, and there was a direct binding relationship between them. Down-regulation of miR-324 significantly promoted the proliferation, invasion and migration of SKOV3 cells. Further studies revealed that miR-324 had a binding site at the 3'-UTR end of the TWIST1, a key transcription factor for EMT. Inhibiting miR-324 expression increased the transcription level of TWIST1, leading to a decrease in E-cadherin protein expression and an increase in Vimentin protein expression. Additionally, the downregulation of miR-324 resulted in an increased expression level of VEGF-A protein, which in turn enhanced angiogenesis of OC. Conclusion TPT1-AS1 promotes EOC cell proliferation, invasion, migration and angiogenesis by negatively regulating the miR-324/TWIST1 axis, thus promoting the development of OC. These findings provide new potential targets for the diagnosis and treatment of OC.
Humans ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Female ; Cell Movement/genetics* ; Ovarian Neoplasms/blood supply* ; Twist-Related Protein 1/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/genetics* ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/metabolism* ; Nuclear Proteins/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation/genetics* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; Cadherins/genetics* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics* ; Vimentin/genetics* ; Angiogenesis

OBJECTIVES: To explore the association of the expression of WW domain-containing ubiquitin E3 ligase 1 (WWP1) with immune infiltration in tumor microenvironment (TME) of ovarian cancer. METHODS: Ovarian cancer patient data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were used to analyze the association of WWP1 expression with patient prognosis. TISCH2 was utilized to analyze the changes in immune cell subtypes in TME of metastatic tumor and after chemotherapy. The impact of WWP1 on immune cell infiltration, somatic copy number alterations of WWP1 and evolution of immune cell subtypes was evaluated using TIMER and TIGER pseudo-time analysis. A deep learning model was used to analyze TCGA pathological images to investigate the effect of WWP1 on TME of ovarian cancer. RNA-seq analysis was conducted to identify the differentially expressed genes in WWP1-overexpressing SKOV3 cells and validate immune infiltration. Multicolor immunofluorescence assay was used to analyze the immune markers in SKOV3 and SKOV3/DDP cell xenografts in nude mice. RESULTS: The patients with high WWP1 expression levels had significantly lower overall survival rate (P=0.0012). High WWP1 expression levels and Stage IV disease were both associated with a poor prognosis (P<0.05). In metastatic ovarian cancer or after chemotherapy, the percentages of malignant tumor cells and tumor-associated fibroblasts increased in the TME, accompanied by elevated WWP1 levels. WWP1 expression level was positively correlated with pro-tumorigenic immunosuppressive cells (r=0.1323-0.3955, P<0.05) and negatively with tumor-inhibiting immune cells (r=-0.1949- -0.1333, P<0.05). Specific copy number alterations of WWP1 also influenced CD8⁺ T cell percentage and neutrophil infiltration levels in the TME. RNA-seq analysis of WWP1-overexpressing SKOV3 cells and immunofluorescence assay of the tumor-bearing mice yielded findings consistent with those of bioinformatics analysis. CONCLUSIONS WWP1 may serve as a prognostic biomarker and a potential target for immune regulation in the TME of ovarian cancer.
Female ; Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics* ; Humans ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism* ; Tumor Microenvironment/immunology* ; Animals ; Mice ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Mice, Nude ; Prognosis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal malignancy affecting the female reproductive system. Pharmacological inhibitors targeting CDK4/6 have demonstrated promising efficacy across various cancer types. However, their clinical benefits in ovarian cancer patients fall short of expectations, with only a subset of patients experiencing these advantageous effects. This study aims to provide further clinical and biological evidence for antineoplastic effects of a CDK4/6 inhibitor (TQB4616) in ovarian cancer and explore underlying mechanisms involved. Patient-derived ovarian cancer organoid models were established to evaluate the effectiveness of TQB3616. Potential key genes related to TQB3616 sensitivity were identified through RNA-seq analysis, and TRIM4 was selected as a candidate gene for further investigation. Subsequently, co-immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assays confirmed that TRIM4 binds to hnRNPDL and promotes its ubiquitination through RING and B-box domains. RIP assay demonstrated that hnRNPDL binded to CDKN2C isoform 2 and suppressed its expression by alternative splicing. Finally, in vivo studies confirmed that the addition of siTRIM4 significantly improved the effectiveness of TQB3616. Overall, our findings suggest that TRIM4 modulates ubiquitin-mediated degradation of hnRNPDL and weakens sensitivity to CDK4/6 inhibitors in ovarian cancer treatment. TRIM4 may serve as a valuable biomarker for predicting sensitivity to CDK4/6 inhibitors in ovarian cancer.
Humans ; Female ; Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology* ; Animals ; Tripartite Motif Proteins/genetics* ; Mice ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology* ; Ubiquitin/metabolism* ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; Ubiquitination ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*

Ovarian cancer poses a significant threat to women's health, necessitating effective therapeutic strategies. Emd-D, an emodin derivative, demonstrates enhanced pharmaceutical properties and bioavailability. In this study, Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8) assays and Ki-67 staining revealed dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation by Emd-D. Migration and invasion experiments confirmed its inhibitory effects on OVHM cells, while flow cytometry analysis demonstrated Emd-D-induced apoptosis. Mechanistic investigations elucidated that Emd-D functions as an inhibitor by directly binding to the glycolysis-related enzyme PFKFB4. This was corroborated by alterations in intracellular lactate and pyruvate levels, as well as glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and hexokinase 2 (HK2) expression. PFKFB4 overexpression experiments further supported the dependence of Emd-D on PFKFB4-mediated glycolysis and SRC3/mTORC1 pathway-associated apoptosis. In vivo experiments exhibited reduced xenograft tumor sizes upon Emd-D treatment, accompanied by suppressed glycolysis and increased expression of Bax/Bcl-2 apoptotic proteins within the tumors. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate Emd-D's potential as an anti-ovarian cancer agent through inhibition of the PFKFB4-dependent glycolysis pathway and induction of apoptosis. These results provide a foundation for further exploration of Emd-D as a promising drug candidate for ovarian cancer treatment.
Female ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms/physiopathology* ; Phosphofructokinase-2/genetics* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Glycolysis/drug effects* ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Mice ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Emodin/administration & dosage* ; Mice, Nude ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Hexokinase/metabolism* ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

This study primarily investigated the mechanism of Astragalus polysaccharides(APS), a Chinese medicinal material, in regulating the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway to induce ferroptosis in ovarian cancer cells(Caov-3 and SKOV3 cells). Caov-3 and SKOV3 cells were divided into control(Vehicle) group, APS group, glutathione peroxidase 4 inhibitor(RSL3) group, and APS+RSL3 group. After 48 h of intervention, the activity and morphology of the cells in each group were observed. The cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) method was used to determine the half-maximal inhibitory concentration(IC_(50)), while colony formation and EdU assays were conducted to assess cell proliferation. Biochemical reagents were used to detect lipid reactive oxygen species(L-ROS), malondialdehyde(MDA), divalent iron ions(Fe~(2+)), and glutathione(GSH) in Caov-3 cells. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe the morphological changes of mitochondria in Caov-3 cells. Bioinformatics analysis were used to screen potential target genes of APS in ovarian cancer cells. Western blot and RT-PCR were applied to measure the protein and mRNA expression of Nrf2, SLC7A11, and GPX4. The results revealed that APS effectively inhibited the activity and proliferation of ovarian cancer cells, significantly increased the expression levels of L-ROS, MDA, and Fe~(2+)(P<0.001), and significantly reduced the expression level of GSH(P<0.001). Under electron microscopy, the mitochondria of Caov-3 cells appeared significantly smaller, with a marked increase in the density of the bilayer membrane, disappearance of mitochondrial cristae, and rupture of the outer mitochondrial membrane. These effects were more pronounced when APS was combined with RSL3. Bioinformatics screening identified Nrf2, SLC7A11, and GPX4 as potential target genes for APS in ovarian cancer cells. APS was shown to reduce the protein and mRNA expression of Nrf2, SLC7A11, and GPX4(P<0.01), with the APS+RSL3 showing even more significant effects(P<0.001). In conclusion, APS can induce ferroptosis in ovarian cancer cells, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway, providing an experimental basis for the use of APS injections in the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Humans ; Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Female ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/genetics* ; Ovarian Neoplasms/physiopathology* ; Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Amino Acid Transport System y+/genetics* ; Polysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Astragalus Plant/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Adenocarcinoma/physiopathology* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Glutathione Peroxidase/genetics* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*

Although olaparib has demonstrated substantial clinical benefits as maintenance therapy in BRCA mutation-carrying women with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer, its effectiveness in patients without BRCA mutations remains poorly investigated. This study aims to provide the first evidence on the efficacy of mono-olaparib maintenance therapy in such context. Using real-world data from 11 high-volume tertiary care centers in China, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of olaparib as first-line maintenance therapy in patients with BRCA wild-type ovarian cancer. The primary objective was 1-year progression-free survival rate. Safety was also evaluated. Fifty patients with a median age of 54 years were included, and all of them tested negative for BRCA mutations but positive for homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). The 1-year PFS rate was 75.2% (95% CI, 63.4 to 89.2), and the median PFS was 21.0 months (95% CI, 13.8 to 28.2). All the patients received olaparib at a starting dose of 300 mg twice daily, and none experienced serious adverse events (AEs). Eight (16%) patients had dose adjustment, but none discontinued olaparib treatment due to AEs. We provide the first evidence that mono-olaparib could be a safe and effective maintenance treatment option for patients newly diagnosed with HRD-positive/BRCA wild-type ovarian cancer.
Humans ; Female ; Phthalazines/adverse effects* ; Piperazines/administration & dosage* ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Aged ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors/administration & dosage* ; China ; Maintenance Chemotherapy ; BRCA2 Protein/genetics* ; Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects* ; Progression-Free Survival ; BRCA1 Protein/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: Despite the combination of Scutellaria barbata D. Don and Scleromitrion diffusum (Willd.) R.J. Wang (SB-SD) being a recognized Chinese medicinal herbal pair that is commonly used in the treatment of ovarian cancer, there is a poor understanding of their pharmacological mechanisms. This study examines the antitumor properties and potential mechanisms of SB-SD on human ovarian cancer A2780 cells through a multi-omics approach, establishing a pharmacological basis for clinical utilization. METHODS: A range of mass ratios and reagents were used in the hot reflux extraction of SB-SD. The inhibitory effect of the SB-SD extracts on A2780 cell proliferation was assessed using the cell-counting kit 8 assay. A zebrafish tumor implantation model was used to evaluate the effects of SB-SD extracts on tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Transcriptomics and proteomics were used to investigate alterations in biological pathways in A2780 cells after treatment with different concentrations of SB-SD extract. Cell cycle, cell apoptosis, intracellular free iron concentration, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration, malondialdehyde (MDA), and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were utilized to investigate the effects of heme catabolism and ferritinophagy on ferroptosis induced by SB-SD extract in A2780 cells. RESULTS: The 70% ethanol extract of SB-SD (a mass ratio of 4:1) inhibited A2780 cell proliferation significantly with a half maximal inhibitory concentration of 660 μg/mL in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, it effectively suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in a zebrafish tumor implantation model. SB-SD extract induced the accumulation of free iron, ROS, MDA, and mitochondrial damage in A2780 cells. The mechanisms might involve the upregulated expression of ferritinophagy-related genes microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3, autophagy-related gene 5, and nuclear receptor coactivator 4. CONCLUSION SB-SD extract effectively inhibited the development of ovarian cancer both in vitro and in vivo. Its mechanism of action involved inducing ferroptosis by facilitating heme catabolism and ferritinophagy. This herbal pair holds promise as a potential therapeutic option for ovarian cancer treatment and may be utilized in combination with routine treatment to improve the treatment outcomes of ovarian cancer patients. Please cite this article as: Wang Z, Liu M, Li GX, Zhang L, Ding KY, Li SQ, Gao BQ, Chen P, Choe HC, Xia LY, Yang YT, Liu Y, Sui X, Ma JN, Zhang L. A herbal pair of Scutellaria barbata D. Don and Scleromitrion diffusum (Willd.) R.J. Wang induced ferroptosis in ovarian cancer A2780 cells via inducing heme catabolism and ferritinophagy. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(6): 666-683.
Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Female ; Humans ; Animals ; Scutellaria/chemistry* ; Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics* ; Zebrafish ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Ferritins/genetics* ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Heme/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology* ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects*

The present study aimed to explore the main active components and underlying mechanisms of Marsdenia tenacissima in the treatment of ovarian cancer(OC) through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro cell experiments. The active components of M. tenacissima were obtained from the literature search, and their potential targets were obtained from SwissTargetPrediction. The OC-related targets were retrieved from Therapeutic Target Database(TTD), Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM), GeneCards, and PharmGKB. The common targets of the drug and the disease were screened out by Venn diagram. Cytoscape was used to construct an "active component-target-disease" network, and the core components were screened out according to the node degree. The protein-protein interaction(PPI) network of the common targets was constructed by STRING and Cytoscape, and the core targets were screened out according to the node degree. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of potential therapeutic targets were carried out with DAVID database. Molecular docking was used to determine the binding activity of some active components to key targets by AutoDock. Finally, the anti-OC activity of M. tenacissima extract was verified based on SKOV3 cells in vitro. The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was selected for in vitro experimental verification according to the results of GO function and KEGG pathway analyses. Network pharmacology results showed that 39 active components, such as kaempferol, 11α-O-benzoyl-12β-O-acetyltenacigenin B, and drevogenin Q, were screened out, involving 25 core targets such as AKT1, VEGFA, and EGFR, and the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway was the main pathway of target protein enrichment. The results of molecular docking also showed that the top ten core components showed good binding affinity to the top ten core targets. The results of in vitro experiments showed that M. tenacissima extract could significantly inhibit the proliferation of OC cells, induce apoptosis of OC cells through the mitochondrial pathway, and down-regulate the expression of proteins related to the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. This study shows that M. tenacissima has the characteristics of multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway synergistic effect in the treatment of OC, which provides a theoretical basis for in-depth research on the material basis, mechanism, and clinical application.
Humans ; Female ; Marsdenia ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Network Pharmacology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics* ; Databases, Genetic ; Plant Extracts ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*

Humans ; Female ; Deep Learning ; Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics* ; Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial/genetics* ; Neural Networks, Computer ; RNA

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a crucial regulatory role in the development and progression of multiple cancers. However, the potential mechanism by which lncRNAs affect the recurrence and metastasis of ovarian cancer remains unclear. In the current study, the lncRNA LOC646029 was markedly downregulated in metastatic ovarian tumors compared with primary tumors. Gain- and loss-of-function assays demonstrated that LOC646029 inhibits the proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, the downregulation of LOC646029 in metastatic ovarian tumors was strongly correlated with poor prognosis. Mechanistically, LOC646029 served as a miR-627-3p sponge to promote the expression of Sprouty-related EVH1 domain-containing protein 1, which is necessary for suppressing tumor metastasis and inhibiting KRAS signaling. Collectively, our results demonstrated that LOC646029 is involved in the progression and metastasis of ovarian cancer, which may be a potential prognostic biomarker.
Humans ; Female ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; RNA, Competitive Endogenous ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics* ; Cell Proliferation/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Cell Movement/genetics* ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism*