Eukaryotic elongation factors 2 (eEF2) plays an essential role in the
GTP-dependent translocation of the ribosome along
mRNA. Previous studies have shown that eEF2 is overexpressed in various
tumors. However, little is known about the role of eEF2 in
ovarian cancer. The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of eEF2 on
ovarian cancer proliferation. We first measured eEF2
protein expression by western blot using six fresh
ovarian cancer tissues from G1 to G3. The results showed that eEF2 expression gradually increased from G1 to G3. Additionally, eEF2 expression correlated significantly with grade (P = 0.045), FIGO stage (P = 0.035) and Ki67 (P < 0.05). Additionally, there was a significant positive association between eEF2 expression and Ki67 (r = 0.855). Cox's proportional hazards model also showed that eEF2 (P = 0.004) and Ki67 (P < 0.001) were an independent prognostic factor of overall survival in
ovarian cancer patients. In vitro, after the release of
ovarian cancer cell line (HO8910) from serum
starvation, the expression of eEF2, cyclinD1 and
PCNA was up-regulated. Moreover, silencing eEF2 in HO8910 cells decreased cell proliferation. Finally, we hypothesize that eEF2 may be activated in a positive feedback cycle through inactivation of eEF2K via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. These data provide novel insights into developing
experimental therapies for
ovarian cancer.