This study aimed to elucidate the role of
long non-coding RNA activated by
transforming growth factor-β (
lncRNA-ATB) in
ovarian cancer and its underlying mechanisms of action. Expression levels of
lncRNA-ATB in
ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 and in a healthy human ovarian cell line were compared using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The results indicated that
lncRNA-ATB was expressed at significantly higher levels in SKOV3 cells compared with the healthy cell line. After downregulation of
lncRNA-ATB expression in SKOV3 cells using
lncRNA-ATB-
short hairpin RNA, cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration were assessed using Cell counting kit-8, Live Dead staining, Transwell assay and wound healing assay, respectively. RT-qPCR and western blotting were used to quantify the expression of
signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), phosphorylated (p)-STAT3, and the additional epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related
proteins E-cadherin and
vimentin in SKOV3 cells.
LncRNA-ATB downregulation significantly reduced SKOV3 cell proliferation, invasion and migration, promoted apoptosis, decreased the expression of p-STAT3 and
vimentin, and increased
E-cadherin expression. Taken together, these results suggest that
lncRNA-ATB downregulation can inhibit
ovarian cancer cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and promote cell apoptosis. Lnc-
RNA-ATB may therefore be a new target for
ovarian cancer treatment.