Potential Roles Of Circska3 In Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Development

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the deadliest gynecologic cancer, of which epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most prevalent and aggressive form. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers in various cancers, including EOC. This study investigated circSKA3, which was identified to be overexpressed in high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). Using qRT-PCR, we confirmed upregulation in HGSC tissues compared to less aggressive subtypes. Functional assays revealed circSKA3's tumor-promoting effects in HGSC cell lines, enhancing proliferation, migration, and clonogenicity. We identified its possible involvement in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and dysregulation of cellular metabolism, contributing to increased aggressiveness in HGSC. Protein pulldown assays and mass spectrometry analysis also identified potential interacting proteins. We then predicted circSKA3-miRNA-mRNA network to explore potential miRNA-mRNA crosstalk dysregulated by circSKA3. These findings suggest that circSKA3, via a complex regulatory interplay of proteins and miRNA interactions, modulates EMT and cellular metabolism to drive HGSC malignancy.