CDC20 is a novel biomarker for improved clinical predictions in epithelial ovarian cancer

Xiaoxue Xi; Tianyue Cao; Yonghong Qian; Huiling Wang; Songwen Ju; Youguo Chen; Ting Chen; Jian Yang; Biaoquan Liang; Shunyu Hou

CDC20 is a novel biomarker for improved clinical predictions in epithelial ovarian cancer

Am J Cancer Res. 2022 Jul 15;12(7):3303-3317. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University Suzhou 215002, Jiangsu, China.
² Central Laboratory, Nanjing Medica University Affiliated Suzhou Hospital Suzhou 215128, Jiangsu, China.
³ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu, China.

PMID: 35968331
PMCID: PMC9360218

Abstract

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), a common tumor of the female reproductive system, ranks first in fatalities among gynecological malignancies. Most patients find tumors at late stage and have extremely poor prognoses, which necessitates improvements in early detection. This study applied bioinformatic methods to identify potential biomarkers of EOC. First, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and hub genes, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. The network of hub genes was analyzed using GeneMANIA, and an analysis of biological processes was constructed with BINGO. Lastly, hub genes were analyzed for EOC-related oncology using the Oncomine and TCGA databases, and the cBioPortal online platform. Overall, cell division cycle 20 (CDC20) was identified as a key gene in EOC. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was used to silence CDC20 to explore its effects on EOC cell proliferation, apoptosis and SRY-related HMG-box 2 (SOX2) expression. DEGs were enriched in pathways related to cell cycle signaling, cancer, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, Wnt signaling and P53 signaling. Analysis revealed high expression of CDC20 in EOC tissues and a correlation with histology and tumor grade. CDC20 levels are highest in serous adenocarcinoma, when compared to ovarian clear cell carcinoma, ovarian endometrioid carcinoma and mucinous adenocarcinoma. High CDC20 expression within the tumor is associated with poor EOC prognosis. After silencing CDC20, EOC cell proliferation and migration decreased, apoptosis increased, and SOX2 expression decreased. In conclusion, CDC20 is likely a key biomarker of EOC and may act as an upstream regulator of SOX2 to mediate the SOX2 signaling in the progression of EOC. Future application of CDC20 analysis to early detection may improve prognosis, and it has the potential to be a therapeutic target.

Keywords: CDC20; Epithelial ovarian cancer; SOX2; bioinformatics; biomarkers.