FAM64A contributes to ovarian cancer proliferation and metastasis by suppressing TWIST1 ubiquitination and degradation

Ovarian cancer is among the most common cancers among gynecological malignancies. FAM64A is associated with various cancer progressions, but its function and mechanism in ovarian cancer remain unclear. We analyzed and examined the expression of FAM64A in ovarian cancer cells and tissues. Proliferation, migration and invasion were assessed by knocking down and overexpressing FAM64A in A2780 and SKOV3 cells, respectively. Bioinformatics combined with molecular experiments validated the molecular mechanism of FAM64A. A xenograft tumor model and lung metastasis model were created to explore the impact of FAM64A on tumor growth and metastasis in nude mice. To evaluate the relative signaling molecule expression, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blot assays were conducted. FAM64A was upregulated in ovarian cancer tissues and cells and was demonstrated to promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of A2780 and SKOV3 cells in vitro. Bioinformatics and western blot assays indicated that FAM64A could regulate the EMT-related transcription factor TWIST1 by suppressing TWIST1 ubiquitination and degradation via the E3 ubiquitin ligase STUB1. Moreover, the knockdown of FAM64A inhibited tumor growth in xenograft tumor mice and lung metastasis in vivo. FAM64A exerts its oncogenic function by regulating TWIST1 ubiquitination and degradation, indicating that FAM64A may provide a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of ovarian cancer.