Background: The molecular mechanism in the progression of ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the potential function of RAYLY in OCCC. Methods: To validate RAYLY expression, immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting were performed in OCCC tissues and the cell lines of OCCC and epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). Subsequently, the biological effects of RALYL were evaluated through colony formation, and cell proliferation, migration and invasion assays. Finally, RNA-sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were conducted to explore potential mechanism of RALYL in OCCC. Results: In our study, RALYL was significantly down-regulated in a majority of OCCC tissues compared to adjacent non-tumorous tissues, and OCCC cells had a lower expression level of RALYL than that of EOC cells. OCCC patients with high RALYL expression had a better pathological stage and prognosis. In vitro, over-expression of RALYL inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion in OCCC. GSEA analysis and western blot indicated an enrichment of MAPK and CDH1 signaling pathways in OCCC cells without RALYL over-expression. Conclusions: RALYL played an important role in the progression of OCCC, and might serve as a potential prognostic biomarker and novel therapeutic target for OCCC.
Keywords: CDH1; MAPK; RAYLY; ovarian clear cell carcinoma.
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