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Updated: Aug 14, 2025

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Role of TMOD3 in Platinum Resistance and Immune Infiltration in Ovarian Cancer
Published on: August 2, 2024
SRC-3/TRAF4 facilitates ovarian cancer development by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
Ying Wang1, Xia Luo2, Nayiyuan Wu2
1Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China. wangying2479@hnca.org.cn.
Objective:
Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer in women, and it causes many deaths in women worldwide. Patients with ovarian cancer have a poor prognosis and low survival rate. This study aimed to explore the role of the SRC-3/TRAF4/PI3K/AKT pathway in ovarian cancer development.
Methods:
SRC-3 and TRAF4 expression in ovarian cancer cell lines were assessed using qRT-PCR and western-blotting. The expression of SRC-3 and TRAF4 in ovarian cancer cells was downregulated by transient transfection with sh-RNAs. An MTT assay was performed to evaluate cell proliferation. Cell migration and invasion were measured using a Transwell assay. Cell stemness was detected using a cell spheroidization assay and western blotting. The expression levels of stem cell factors and PI3K/AKT pathway proteins were determined by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis.
Results:
SRC-3 and TRAF4 were upregulated in ovarian cancer cell lines. TRAF4 is a downstream factor of SRC-3, and the protein level of TRAF4 was regulated by SRC-3. SRC-3 knockdown reduced TRAF4 expression. Silencing SRC-3 or TRAF4 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as the expression of stem cell factors. Furthermore, sh-TRAF4 as well as treatment with LY294002, the PI3K/Akt inhibitor, inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt and PI3K, thus repressing the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in ovarian cancer cell lines. However, TRAF4 overexpression reversed the effect of SRC-3 silencing on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and stemness.
Conclusion:
Our study demonstrated that SRC-3/TRAF4 promotes ovarian cancer cell growth, migration, invasion, and stemness by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway.
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