Inhibitory Effect of the Zinc Metallochaperone NSC319726 on Ovarian Cancer Cells via the Regulation of P53

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from malignancies of the female reproductive system. In recent years, there has been little development regarding the treatment of ovarian cancer. Wild-type tumor protein p53 (P53) can inhibit the development of tumor, however, mutations in P53 have been shown in most cases of ovarian cancer. The mutated gene encoded P53 transforms from a tumor suppressor gene to an oncogene, losing its original anti-tumor function. Studies have shown that the zinc metallochaperone NSC319726 can promote the correct folding of P53 in cancer cells and restore its physiological function, however, the function of NSC319726 in ovarian cancer has not been elaborated. So we investigated the role of NSC319726 on biological functions of ovarian cancer and preliminarily determined the specific molecular mechanism. The results showed that NSC319726 could inhibit proliferation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells and promote their apoptosis. Mechanically, NSC319726 regains the tumor-suppressed function of P53, further activates the downstream cyclin-dependent kinase CDK inhibited protein P21, thereby blocking the cell cycle and inhibiting cells proliferation. Therefore, NSC319726 has the potential to act as a novel drug for treating ovarian cancer.