IFI16 Induced by p53 Activates the NF-κB Pathway to Counteract Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis in Cervical Cancer Cells

Cervical Cancer ranks as the second most prevalent Cancer among women worldwide, and the primary treatment for advanced cases involves cisplatin-based chemotherapy. However, the duration of cisplatin treatment is typically short, with a median survival rate of approximately 1 year. This highlights the urgent need to enhance our understanding of cisplatin's mechanism of action in cervical Cancer treatment. Our findings demonstrate that p53 induces the nuclear translocation of IFI16, leading to activation of the NF-κB signalling pathway. This activation plays a crucial role in protecting cervical Cancer cells against cisplatin-induced Apoptosis. The activation of NF-κB is independent of STING, which is a downstream molecule of IFI16. STING signalling activation by cisplatin may not be associated with cisplatin-induced Apoptosis. To further validate this tumour-promoting effect of IFI16 during cisplatin therapy, we established a subcutaneous implantation tumour model using mouse cervical Cancer (U14) cells and conducted additional in vitro experiments. We examined the role and mechanism of IFI16 in cisplatin treatment of cervical Cancer. The role of IFI16 in cervical Cancer progression deserves further study. Targeted inhibition of IFI16 may be a new way to increase cisplatin sensitivity of cervical Cancer cells.

IFI16; NF‐κB; STING; cervical cancer; cisplatin; p53.