CNTN1 promotes cell proliferation and metastasis in ovarian cancer through PSEN1.

Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) is a commonly occurring malignant tumor in women with a high mortality rate. Early detection remains challenging, and therapeutic options for advanced OC are severely limited. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets to improve outcomes for patients. Contactin-1 (CNTN1), a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, functions as a modulator of cancer progression, yet its specific role in OC remains undefined. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical significance and regulatory role of CNTN1 in OC proliferation and metastasis.

Methods: This study examined CNTN1 expression in 40 paired OC tissue samples and cell lines using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Colony formation assays assessed proliferative capacity, while transwell assays measured invasive and migratory potential. Additionally, a tumor xenograft model in nude mice was employed to verify in vivo proliferative effects.

Results: The results demonstrated that CNTN1 expression was markedly elevated in OC tissues and positively associated with advanced tumor stage, metastasis, and poor prognosis. Silencing CNTN1 significantly inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion in OC cell lines. Bioinformatics analysis combined with luciferase assays identified a regulatory interaction between CNTN1 and presenilin-1 (PSEN1), with CNTN1 expression positively correlating with PSEN1 levels in patient samples. Notably, PSEN1 overexpression reversed the impaired proliferation, migration, and invasion induced by CNTN1 suppression.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that CNTN1 promotes OC progression through PSEN1 regulation and may represent a prognostic biomarker for OC.