Long noncoding RNA PROX1-AS1 promoted ovarian cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by suppressing KLF6.

Recently, the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumor progression has attracted much attention worldwide. Numerous studies have identified lncRNA PROX1-AS1 as an oncogene in cancers. Therefore, the aim of this research was to explore the function of PROX1-AS1 in the development of ovarian cancer. PROX1-AS1 expression in both ovarian cancer patients and normal subjects was detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Subsequently, PROX1-AS1 shRNA was constructed and transfected in vitro. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, colony formation assay, transwell assay, and Matrigel assay were utilized to detect the function of PROX1-AS1 in ovarian cancer. In addition, the potential mechanism was explored using qRT-PCR and Western blot assay. PROX1-AS1 was highly expressed in ovarian carcinoma samples and cell lines (p<0.05). The proliferation, migration, and invasion of ovarian cells were significantly inhibited after PROX1-AS1 was downregulated in vitro (p<0.05). Besides, the mRNA and protein expressions of KLF6 were significantly promoted after PROX1-AS1 knockdown in ovarian cancer cells (p<0.05). Further functional assays showed that KLF6 expression was negatively correlated with PROX1-AS1 expression in ovarian cancer samples. PROX1-AS1 enhances the metastasis and proliferation of ovarian cancer cells via suppressing KLF6. Our findings suggest that PROX1-AS1 may be applied as a novel target for therapy of ovarian cancer.