miRNA-574-3p inhibits metastasis and chemoresistance of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) by negatively regulating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

Background: This current study explored the role of miRNA-574-3p and the related molecular mechanisms in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods: Tissues of ovarian cancer patients were applied to explore the correlation between miRNA-574-3p and EOC. The role of miRNA-574-3p in migration, invasion and chemoresistance of EOC cells was evaluated by overexpression and suppression of miRNA-574-3p in SKOV3 and CAOV3 cells. For the sake of exploring how miRNA-574-3p regulated tumor migration, invasion and chemoresistance of EOC cells, we detected several related molecular expressions and activities of signaling pathways. Results: Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was correlated with downregulation of miR-574-3p in EOC tissues. Overexpression of miRNA-574-3p in EOC cells led to inhibition of cell migration as well as invasion, and it significantly promoted the sensitivities of EOC cells to paclitaxel and cisplatin. Molecular experiments showed miR-574-3p inhibited activation of AKT, FAK and c-Src, as well as MMP-9 expression via targeting EGFR. Conclusion: Taken together, these data demonstrated that miRNA-574-3p inhibits both tumor metastasis and chemoresistance in EOC via targeting EGFR. Thus, targeting miRNA-574-3p may become a potential molecular method for EOC.