Overexpression of ARF1 is associated with cell proliferation and migration through PI3K signal pathway in ovarian cancer.

ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1) is a small G protein that regulates many cellular processes such as reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and is highly expressed in various tumor cells and tissues. However, the role of ARF1 in ovarian cancer progression remains unknown. In the present study, we explored the expression patterns of ARF1 in clinical ovarian cancer samples and adjacent noncancerous tissues. The results revealed that ARF1 overexpressed in EOC tissues and cell lines, compared with the adjacent non-tumorous tissues and normal ovarian cells. In addition, the immunoreactivity of ARF1 was positively correlated with EOC grade and Ki-67 expression. Knockdown of ARF1 expression notably inhibited cell proliferation and migration rate of EOC cells by the auxiliary of PI3K. Taken together, our findings provide new insights into the functional role of ARF1 on EOC cell growth and migration and it may serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic target.