Analysis of the association between KIN17 expression and the clinical features/prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer, and the effects of KIN17 in SKOV3 cells

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are an important mechanism of chemotherapy in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Kin17 DNA and RNA binding protein (KIN17) serves a crucial role in DSB repair. In the present study, the association between KIN17 and EOC, and the effects of KIN17 on EOC cells in vitro were evaluated. A bioinformatics method was used to determine the mRNA expression levels of KIN17 in EOC and its association with EOC prognosis including overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) time. Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining were used to evaluate the expression levels of KIN17 in EOC samples. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were utilized to analyze risk factors for the OS of patients with EOC. A Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was performed to explore the roles of KIN17 in SKOV3 cells. Both the transcription and expression of KIN17 were upregulated in EOC tissues. Furthermore, the OS of patients with EOC with high mRNA expression levels of KIN17 was shorter than that of patients with EOC with low expression levels. High KIN17 expression was an independent risk factor for EOC prognosis. Furthermore, KIN17 knockdown inhibited the proliferation of SKOV3 cells, enhanced the sensitivity of the cells to cisplatin and inhibited the migration ability of the cells. These results suggested that KIN17 may act as an ideal candidate for therapy and as a prognostic biomarker of EOC, although the underlying mechanisms require further exploration.