2. Academic Validation
  3. DHRS9 promotes malignant progression of ovarian cancer through SQSTM1

DHRS9 promotes malignant progression of ovarian cancer through SQSTM1

  • J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2025 Aug 27;151(8):236. doi: 10.1007/s00432-025-06290-y.
Yanju Wu 1,  Shu Meng 2,  Haoqi Zhao 3,  Bowen Tan 3,  Jinte Gao 4,  Jingyi Du 5,  Xiaona Meng 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Teaching Center for Basic Medical Experiment, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China.
  • 2 The Second Drug Room of Shenyang Institute for Food and Drug Control, Shenyang Institute for Food and Drug Control, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China.
  • 3 Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110000, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China.
  • 4 Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110000, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China.
  • 5 Second Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China.
  • 6 Teaching Center for Basic Medical Experiment, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China. xnmeng@cmu.edu.cn.
PMID: 40864320 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-025-06290-y
Abstract

Objective: This research explores the prognostic value of DHRS9 in ovarian carcinoma and elucidates its regulatory mechanisms.

Methods: Bioinformatic analyses were applied to clarify the association between DHRS9 expression level and clinical survival outcomes in ovarian Cancer patients. Functional assays were conducted to evaluate cell growth, migration, and invasion. Apoptosis was quantified via flow cytometry. The expression of Dehydrogenase/Reductase Member 9 (DHRS9) and sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1) at both mRNA and protein levels was analyzed via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot assays. Mass spectrometry identified SQSTM1 as a putative downstream effector of DHRS9, and their interaction was validated by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). The in vivo effects of DHRS9 knockdown were examined in a subcutaneous xenograft tumor model of nude mice.

Results: Bioinformatic analysis showed that elevated DHRS9 expression correlated with reduced overall survival in ovarian Cancer patients. Silencing DHRS9 attenuated cell growth, migration, and invasion, whereas promoting apoptotic activity. In contrast, DHRS9 overexpression enhanced oncogenic behaviors and suppressed Apoptosis. Mass spectrometry and Co-IP analyses confirmed SQSTM1 as an interacting partner of DHRS9, and knockdown of DHRS9 decreased SQSTM1 protein levels in vivo and in vitro, while its overexpression increased SQSTM1 levels. Moreover, functional studies demonstrated that SQSTM1 knockdown reduced ovarian cell growth, migration, and invasion. Xenograft experiments further demonstrated that DHRS9 knockdown resulted in decreased tumor volume.

Conclusion: DHRS9 promotes ovarian Cancer proliferation, migration, and invasion, and inhibits Apoptosis through its interaction with SQSTM1. These findings indicate that DHRS9 may serve as a potential prognostic indicator and therapeutic candidate in ovarian Cancer.

Keywords

Apoptosis; DHRS9; Ovarian cancer; SQSTM1; Tumor progression.

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