RAC1/miR-3613/RAC1 feedback loop contributes to ovarian cancer progression

Abstract The RAC1 signal pathway is involved in various tumor cell biological processes. Here, the role of RAC1-miR-3613-RAC1 negative feedback loop in ovarian cancer was explored. Results showed that RAC1 knockdown up-regulated miR-3613, which in turn inhibited RAC1 expression. RAC1 counteracted the inhibitory effect of miR-3613 on the proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer cells in vitro and on the tumor growth in vivo. In ovarian cancer, miR-3613 expression was negatively correlated with RAC1, and patients with low miR-3613 expression had poor prognosis. These findings indicate the role of RAC1-miR-3613-RAC1 negative feedback loop in the malignant progression of ovarian cancer and its possible therapeutic values.