No abstract

Objective. The objective is to explore the action and mechanism of circ_0109046 on the malignant phenotypes of ovarian cancer cells. Methods. Circ_0109046 and miR-338-3p expression were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In vitro assays were conducted to investigate the action of circ_0109046 and miR-338-3p on ovarian cancer cell growth and metastasis. Western blotting was utilized to investigate the contents of apoptosis-related markers. The binding between circ_0109046 and miR-338-3p was validated using dual-luciferase reporter assay. Results. Circ_0109046 was increased, while miR-338-3p content was decreased in ovarian cancer tissues. Deficiency of circ_0109046 or the upregulation of miR-338-3p was observed to weaken cell proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities and elevated cell apoptosis rate in ovarian cancer. Circ_0109046 targetedly suppressed miR-338-3p. Down-regulation of miR-338-3p was able to reverse the repressing impacts of circ_0109046 silencing on ovarian cancer growth and mobility. Conclusion. Circ_0109046 silencing impaired the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells through negatively regulating miR-338-3p in vitro, indicating the potential implication of circ_0109046 in ovarian cancer progression.