FABP7 Enhances Endometrial Cancer Cell Migration and Stemness by Activating the Wnt/β-catenin Pathway

Endometrial cancer is a common malignancy of the female reproductive system and poses a significant threat to women's health. Fatty acid binding protein 7 (FABP7) plays a key role in regulating lipid metabolism, signal transduction, and gene expression, and has been implicated in the progression of various cancers. However, its role in endometrial cancer remains unclear. The mRNA and protein expression levels were assessed by RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. Cell proliferation was evaluated using the CCK-8 and colony formation assays. Cell migration and invasion were assessed through wound healing and Transwell assays, while cancer stemness was evaluated using the sphere formation assay. FABP7 was found to be highly expressed in endometrial cancer cells. Knockdown of FABP7 significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, FABP7 silencing reduced stemness capacity, as evidenced by diminished sphere-forming ability. Mechanistically, downregulation of FABP7 led to inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. This study demonstrates that FABP7 can promote cell migration and stemness in endometrial cancer by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, supporting FABP7 as a potential therapeutic target for the clinical management of endometrial cancer.