BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The clinical outcome of EOC remains unsatisfactory with current therapeutic approaches such as surgery and platinum/taxane-based chemotherapy. Therefore, novel prognostic markers and personalized therapies targeting specific molecules are urgently needed. Here, we explored whether RNF126, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, is a potential biomarker for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 122 EOC patients. The chi-square test was used to assess correlations between RNF126 level and clinical characteristics of enrolled patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to monitor the prognosis of enrolled patients. In addition, proliferation and invasion assays were conducted to assess the cellular effects of RNF126 on SKOV3 cell progression.

RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry analysis (IHC) revealed that RNF126 was upregulated in EOC tissues compared to adjacent ovarian tissues. In addition, RNF126 expression was remarkably associated with LN metastasis, pathological differentiation, and FIGO stage. RNF126 protein level was found to be an independent biomarker for predication of prognosis in ovarian cancer patients. Cellular results showed that RNF126 enhanced the proliferation and invasion abilities of SKOV3 cells.

CONCLUSIONS: Upregulated protein level of RNF126 in EOC tissues is a biomarker predicting poor outcomes of EOC patients.

Keywords: Biological Markers, Ovarian Neoplasms, Asians, Biomarkers, Tumor, Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial, Cohort Studies, Disease Progression, Immunohistochemistry