Our findings uncover a mechanistic role for miR-221-3p in lymph node metastasis, suggesting that miR-221-3p is upregulated by the transcription factor TWIST2 and downregulates its target THBS2, which may potentially promote lymph node metastasis in cervical cancer.
Twist2, the key Twist isoform related to prognosis, promotes invasion of cervical cancer by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and blocking senescence.
Increased cytoplasmic and nuclear expression levels of TWIST2 were associated with the malignant transformation of cervical epithelium and the histological progression of cervical cancer.