Exploration on correlation of high DLX2 expression with poor prognosis and cellular proliferation in epithelial ovarian cancers

Objective: It has been found that overexpression of distal-less homeobox 2 (DLX2) is closely correlated with multiple cancers. However, the role of DLX2 in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancers is not known. This study was designed to explore the mechanism of action of DLX2 on cellular proliferation and apoptosis in epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs). Methods: A total of 119 EOC tissue specimens were analyzed immunohistochemically, and the correlation between DLX2 expressional level and clinicopathological characteristics was determined. Moreover, western blot method was used to measure DLX2 protein in EOC specimen of different grades and EOC cell lines and explore its molecular mechanism of action. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that overexpression of DLX2 was obviously correlated with an adverse clinical outcome in EOCs (P < 0.01*). Results: DLX2 expressional level had an obvious association with histopathological grade, FIGO stage, ascites and ki-67 expressional level in EOC patients and DLX2 exerted a crucial effect in regulating cellular proliferation in EOCs. Knocking down DLX2 using shRNA-DLX2 reduced the proliferation and enhanced the apoptosis in EOC cells. Conclusion: DLX2 might act as a new prognostic indicator and have an important value for molecular targeted therapeutic drugs in EOCs.