Ovarian cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women and has a high mortality rate due to metastatic progression and tumor recurrence. ASAP1 (ArfGAP with SH3 Domain, Ankyrin Repeat and PH Domain 1) is an ADP-ribosylation factor GTPase-activating protein, which is involved in tumor metastasis. However, the role of ASAP1 in ovarian cancer is completely unknown. The present study reported that ASAP1 was highly expressed in ovarian carcinoma, and expression positively-correlated with overall poor survival and prognosis of patients. Lentiviral vector mediated ASAP1 expression promoted cell migration and invasion in ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV3 and OVCAR3. In addition, ASAP1 promoted cell proliferation, survival and inhibited chemotherapy drug paclitaxel-induced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, ASAP1 expression promoted epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) by upregulating the mesenchymal cell markers N-cadherin and vimentin, and downregulating epithelial cell marker E-cadherin in the ovarian cancer cell lines. The data indicate for the first time that ASAP1 exhibits an oncogenic role by promoting EMT in ovarian cancer cells.
Keywords: ASAP1; apoptosis; epithelial to mesenchymal transition; ovarian cancer.