OCT4 mRNA was overexpressed in effusions compared to solid specimens (p = 0.046), whereas SOX9 was overexpressed in the ovarian tumors compared to effusions and solid metastases (p = 0.003).
Further, OCT-4 was found to be putative target of miR-99-3p in ovarian cancer and inhibition of OCT-4 had similar effects as that of miR-299 inhibition on cell migration and invasion.
Our results indicate that hPaf1/PD2 is overexpressed in OCSCs and maintains the self-renewal of OCSCs through its interaction with OCT3/4; thus, hPaf1/PD2 may be a potential therapeutic target to overcome tumor relapse in OC.