Diagnostic and prognostic value of RUNX1 in ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma and its role in cancer progression via suppressing ferroptosis

Deng He; Yu Zhou; Tiantian Feng; Hu Wang; Nenghuan Tang; Shangqi Ni; Wang Xi; Chengju Zhang

doi:10.2478/ahem-2026-0003

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Diagnostic and prognostic value of RUNX1 in ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma and its role in cancer progression via suppressing ferroptosis

Postępy Higieny i Medycyny Doświadczalnej

Volume 80 (2026): Issue 1 (January 2026)

By: Deng He , Yu Zhou , Tiantian Feng , Hu Wang , Nenghuan Tang , Shangqi Ni , Wang Xi and Chengju Zhang

Open Access

|Mar 2026

Abstract

Objective

We explore the clinical and prognostic significance of RUNX1 in ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma (OSC) and report its previously unreported role in regulating ferroptosis.

Methods

RUNX1 expression and prognosis were tested using TCGA-OV and GTEx data. Functional roles were assessed in vitro via RUNX1 knockdown in OSC cell lines, while measuring proliferation (3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and colony formation) and ferroptosis sensitivity (erastin treatment and glutathione/malondialdehyde (GSH/MDA) assays). Mechanisms were explored via western blotting and bioinformatic analysis.

Results

RUNX1 was significantly higher in OSC patients and correlated to poor overall survival, thereby indicating its prognostic value. RUNX1 knockdown suppressed proliferation and increased erastin-induced ferroptosis sensitivity. Silencing RUNX1 reduced GSH, elevated MDA, and inhibited Nrf2 signaling, thus, suggesting ferroptosis regulation via this pathway.

Conclusion

RUNX1 is an independent prognostic biomarker for OSC. Crucially, we provide novel evidence that RUNX1 promotes OSC progression by conferring resistance to ferroptosis likely through the Nrf2 pathway. Thus, targeting the RUNX1-ferroptosis axis represents a promising therapeutic strategy.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ahem-2026-0003 | Journal eISSN: 1732-2693

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Language: English

Page range: 17 - 29

Submitted on: Aug 15, 2025

Accepted on: Feb 2, 2026

Published on: Mar 2, 2026

Published by: Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

Keywords:

RUNX1,

Related subjects:

Microbiology and virology,

Medicine,

Basic medical science,

Immunology

© 2026 Deng He, Yu Zhou, Tiantian Feng, Hu Wang, Nenghuan Tang, Shangqi Ni, Wang Xi, Chengju Zhang, published by Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Volume 80 (2026): Issue 1 (January 2026)