While the EGF pathway promotes CSC formation in cervical cancer by inducing SOX2, miR-181a-2-3p/let-7i-5p counteracts the EGF pathway by inhibiting SOX2, thereby reducing the CSC population.
Although epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is highly expressed in breast and ovarian tumor tissues, its regulation by the exogenous source of its ligand EGF in human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cervical cancer remains unclear.
These results suggest that EGF functional polymorphism may influence cervical cancer prognosis through an EGF/epidermal growth factor receptor pathway.