Long non-coding RNA XIST promotes malignant behavior of epithelial ovarian cancer

PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the functional role of long non-coding RNA XIST in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). METHODS: Detection of XIST expression levels in EOC tissues and cell lines was done using qRT-PCR. The relationship between XIST expression and clinicopathological features of EOC patients was compared and analyzed. The cumulative survival rates were calculated using Kaplan-Meier. A Cox hazard model was used to identify risk factors for survival. Lastly, the effects of XIST on EOC cell were assessed in vitro. RESULTS: XIST was up-regulated in EOC tissues and cell lines. The expression of XIST was closely related to the tumor grade, distant metastasis, and FIGO stage in the EOC patients. The Cox regression analysis showed that high XIST expression was an independent predictor of prognosis in patients with EOC. In in vitro experiments, reducing XIST expression significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion in EOC cells. CONCLUSION: XIST highly expressed in the EOC and plays a role in tumor promotion, which may be a potential target for the treatment of EOC.