Application of RNA-Seq transcriptome analysis: CD151 is an Invasion/Migration target in all stages of epithelial ovarian cancer
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Updated: May 25, 2026
Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts
Published on: July 25, 2020
Rebecca A Mosig1, Li Lin, Emir Senturk
1Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. John.Martignetti@mssm.edu.
Background:
RNA-Seq allows a theoretically unbiased analysis of both genome-wide transcription levels and mutation status of a tumor. Using this technique we sought to identify novel candidate therapeutic targets expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).
Methods:
Specifically, we sought candidate invasion/migration targets based on expression levels across all tumors, novelty of expression in EOC, and known function. RNA-Seq analysis revealed the high expression of CD151, a transmembrane protein, across all stages of EOC. Expression was confirmed at both the mRNA and protein levels using RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining, respectively.
Results:
In both EOC tumors and normal ovarian surface epithelial cells we demonstrated CD151 to be localized to the membrane and cell-cell junctions in patient-derived and established EOC cell lines. We next evaluated its role in EOC dissemination using two ovarian cancer-derived cell lines with differential levels of CD151 expression. Targeted antibody-mediated and siRNA inhibition or loss of CD151 in SKOV3 and OVCAR5 cell lines effectively inhibited their migration and invasion.
Conclusion:
Taken together, these findings provide the first proof-of-principle demonstration for a next generation sequencing approach to identifying candidate therapeutic targets and reveal CD151 to play a role in EOC dissemination.
Insights
RNA-sequencing identified CD151 as a highly expressed transmembrane protein in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Inhibiting CD151 significantly reduced EOC cell migration and invasion, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) offers unbiased analysis of tumor transcription and mutation status.
- This study aimed to discover novel therapeutic targets in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) using RNA-Seq.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify novel therapeutic targets for EOC.
- Investigate the role of CD151 in EOC progression.
Main Methods:
- RNA-Seq was employed to analyze gene expression across EOC tumors.
- CD151 expression was validated using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.
- Functional studies involved antibody-mediated and siRNA inhibition of CD151 in EOC cell lines.
Main Results:
- High expression of CD151, a transmembrane protein, was detected across all stages of EOC.
- CD151 was localized to membrane and cell-cell junctions in EOC cells.
- Inhibition of CD151 significantly impaired migration and invasion of EOC cell lines (SKOV3 and OVCAR5).
Conclusions:
- RNA-Seq is a viable approach for identifying therapeutic targets in cancer.
- CD151 plays a crucial role in the dissemination of epithelial ovarian cancer.
