The transcription factor ZEB1 mediates the progression of epithelial ovarian cancer by promoting the transcription of CircANKRD17

Abstract Zinc finger E‐box‐binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) is a key transcription factor that regulates the process of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) in various tumors. However, its role in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is far from understood. The present study aimed to explore the role and potential mechanism of action of ZEB1 in EOC. A quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction was used to detect ZEB1 expression levels. The Cell Counting Kit‐8 assay, transwell assays, and flow cytometry were used to verify the effects of ZEB1 on the proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis, and EMT of EOC, respectively. RNA sequencing identified the effect of knocking down ZEB1 on circular RNAs in EOC cells. Dual‐luciferase activity assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments were used to verify the regulatory effect of ZEB1 on the circular RNA ANKRD17 (CircANKRD17; ID: hsa_circ_0007883) at the transcriptional level. Higher ZEB1 expression was found in EOC tissues and cells and was closely related to tumor metastasis, advanced stages, and lower survival rates. Furthermore, silencing ZEB1 inhibited the proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT of EOC cells but enhanced cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, knockdown of ZEB1 resulted in the greatest downregulation of CircANKRD17 in EOC cells, and ZEB1 significantly promoted the expression of CircANKRD17 and had no significant effect on ANKRD17 messenger RNA expression. Further experiments verified that ZEB1 mediates the regulation of EOC processes by CircANKRD17. Highly expressed ZEB1 promoted proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT while it inhibited cell apoptosis in EOC by promoting the transcription of CircANKRD17, providing a potential target for the treatment of EOC.