MUC16 promotes EOC proliferation by regulating GLUT1 expression

As a common malignancy in females with a higher incidence rate, epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a heterogeneous disease with complexity and diversity in histology and therapeutic response. Although great progress has been made in diagnosis and therapeutic strategies, novel therapeutic strategies are required to improve survival. Although the promoting effect of mucin 16 (MUC16) on tumour progression has been reported, the potential mechanisms remain unclear. In our study, we reported that overexpression of MUC16 was significantly related to cell proliferation and disease progression in EOC. Results from clinical specimen analysis and cell experiment support this conclusion. Patients with a high MUC16 expression usually had a worse prognosis that those with a low expression. Cell proliferation ability was significantly decreased in EOC cell lines when the knockdown of MUC16. Further study shows that the function of MUC16 in cell proliferation is based on the regulation of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) expression. MUC16 can control glucose uptake by regulating GLUT1 in EOC cells, thereby promoting glycogen synthesis, so that tumour cells produce more energy for proliferation. This conclusion is based on two findings. First, the significant correlation between MUC16 and GLUT1 was verified by clinical specimen and TCGA data analysis. Then, alteration of MUC16 expression levels can affect the expression of GLUT1 and glucose uptake was also verified. Finally, this conclusion is further verified in vivo by tumour-bearing mice model. To summarize, our results suggest that MUC16 promotes EOC proliferation and disease progression by regulating GLUT1 expression.