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Updated: Jan 12, 2026

Visualizing DNA Damage Repair Proteins in Patient-Derived Ovarian Cancer Organoids via Immunofluorescence Assays
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Visualizing DNA Damage Repair Proteins in Patient-Derived Ovarian Cancer Organoids via Immunofluorescence Assays

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RECQL1 as a potential therapeutic target for PARP inhibitor-resistant ovarian cancer

Hiroyuki Yoshida1, Jiarui Li2, Hiroaki Inui3

  • 1Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, 1397-1 Yamane, Hidaka, Saitama, 350-1298, Japan. hiro_y@saitama-med.ac.jp.

Scientific Reports
|October 31, 2025
PubMed

Insights

High RECQL1 expression correlates with poor response to olaparib in ovarian cancer. Targeting RECQL1 may overcome poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor resistance, improving patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Ovarian cancer treatment faces challenges with resistance to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors.
  • Understanding mechanisms of resistance is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of RECQL1, a RecQ helicase, in overcoming PARP inhibitor resistance in ovarian cancer.
  • To evaluate RECQL1 as a potential therapeutic target.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed RECQL1 protein expression via immunohistochemistry in 44 ovarian cancer patients treated with olaparib.
  • Evaluated the effect of RECQL1 knockdown using siRNA in vitro.
  • Performed Kaplan-Meier and multivariate analyses for survival outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Patients with no response to olaparib showed significantly higher RECQL1 expression (P=0.020).
  • High RECQL1 expression was linked to shorter overall survival (P=0.027) and was a significant prognostic factor (P=0.036).
  • RECQL1 knockdown enhanced sensitivity to olaparib in ovarian cancer cell lines.

Conclusions:

  • RECQL1 is critically involved in PARP inhibitor resistance in ovarian cancer.
  • RECQL1 represents a promising therapeutic target to improve treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.
Keywords:
Homologous recombination repairOvarian cancerPARP inhibitorRECQL1

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