CXCR4 and RIF1 overexpression induces resistance of epithelial ovarian cancer to cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Abstract

The chemoresistance of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a major problem. Thus, the search for novel biomarkers associated with cisplatin sensitivity is overwhelming. Previous studies have shown that CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is associated with tumor growth, angiogenesis, and distant metastases, and replication timing regulatory factor 1 (RIF1) is responsible for the repair of double-strand DNA breaks. This study, thus, aimed to identify the correlation between CXCR4 and RIF1 overexpression and cisplatin sensitivity in EOC. Fifty-five EOC patients were recruited to assess the chemosensitivity of EOC to cisplatin-based chemotherapy at the Oncology Department in Tanta University Hospitals, Egypt. The results showed that patients with a higher CXCR4 and RIF1 expression exhibited a significantly lower chemosensitivity, worse overall survival, and poorer progression-free survival. The only prognostic associated with overall survival was CXCR4. Our study showed that CXCR4 and RIF1expression levels are not associated only with poor prognostic features of epithelial ovarian cancer but also with its chemoresistance to cisplatin, and consequently, with worse overall survival and progression free survival.