The role of RhoC in ovarian epithelial carcinoma: A marker for carcinogenesis, progression, prognosis, and target therapy

Background. Ras homolog gene family member C (RhoC) is a small G protein/guanosine triphosphatase involved in tumor mobility, invasion, and metastasis. Methods. After RhoC siRNA transfection, we measured the changes in phenotypes and some relevant molecules in ovarian carcinoma cell, OVCAR3. The mRNA and protein expression of RhoC was detected in ovarian tumors. Results. RhoC siRNA transfection resulted in low growth, G1 arrest, and apoptotic induction in the OVCAR3 in comparison with the control and mock. Following RhoC knockdown, there was reduced mRNA or protein expression of protein kinase B (Akt), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (stat3), bcl-xL, surviving and phosphorylated p70S6 kinase (p-p70s6k), while the converse was true for Bax and caspase-3. Lovastatin induced apoptosis, suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion, and disrupted lamellipodia formation in OVCAR3. Lovastatin exposure induced lower RhoC, bcl-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), survivin, Akt, bcl-xL, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and p-p70s6k expression in OVCAR3 compared to the control, but higher caspase-3 and Bax expression. RhoC mRNA and protein expression was significantly higher in ovarian carcinoma than in benign tumors and normal ovary tissue (p < 0.05) and was positively associated with dedifferentiation, FIGO staging and p-p70s6k expression of ovarian carcinoma (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The up-regulated RhoC expression may affect ovarian carcinogenesis and should be considered a good biomarker for the differentiation and progression of ovarian carcinoma. RhoC plays an important role in apoptosis by modulating the relevant genes and the phosphorylation of downstream p70s6k. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.