A novel function of STARD7: its tumor-promoting role involves the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway in ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynecologic malignancies contributing to cancer-related deaths among women. However, the mechanisms underlying its development remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of STARD7 in tumorigenesis and its potential molecular mechanisms in ovarian cancer. Cell proliferation was assessed using the Cell Count Kit-8 and colony formation assays. The migration and invasion capabilities of ovarian cancer cells were evaluated through wound healing and Transwell invasion assays. A xenograft tumor model was established in nude mice to examine the role of STARD7 in tumor growth in vivo. The results demonstrated that the knockdown of STARD7 in A2780 and SK-OV-3 cells inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, while overexpression of STARD7 yielded opposing results. Furthermore, STARD7 was found to enhance the levels of phosphorylated p65 proteins and nuclear protein p65. Treatment with the NF-κB inhibitor PDTC inhibited STARD7 overexpression-induced cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. These results suggest that the activation of the NF-κB pathway is involved in STARD7-mediated ovarian cancer progression. Consistent with the in vitro findings, similar results were observed in in vivo ovarian cancer xenograft models. Additionally, dual luciferase reporter assays indicated that STARD7 was regulated by RUNX1-IT1, which acted as a sponge for miR-377-3p. Collectively, these findings suggest that STARD7 may serve as an independent prognostic indicator, promoting ovarian cancer development by activating the NF-κB pathway. This research expands the current understanding of NF-κB regulatory networks and positions STARD7 as a promising therapeutic target for developing pathway-specific interventions.