Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), a gynecological tumor, is associated with high mortality. MicroRNAs (miRs) serve a crucial role in EOC; however, the mechanisms underlying the effect of miRNA‑193a‑5p in EOC are not completely understood. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the expression levels of miR‑193a‑5p in serum samples of patients with EOC and to determine the role of miR‑193a‑5p in EOC. Reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR was used to analyze the expression levels of miR‑193a‑5p in serum samples of patients with EOC and EOC cell lines. The effects of miR‑193a‑5p and RB binding protein 6, ubiquitin ligase (RBBP6) on the biological functions of EOC were determined by conducting a series of in vitro cell function experiments. The results indicated that the expression levels of miR‑193a‑5p were significantly decreased in serum samples obtained from patients with EOC and EOC cell lines compared with healthy individuals and normal cells, respectively. Further investigations indicated that RBBP6 was a target gene of miR‑193a‑5p. The expression levels of RBBP6 were significantly increased in patients with EOC compared with healthy individuals. In addition, in vitro analysis suggested that miR‑193a‑5p mimic significantly decreased SKOV3 cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and promoted SKOV3 cell apoptosis compared with the control and mimic‑negative control groups. In addition, RBBP6 overexpression reversed miR‑193a‑5p mimic‑mediated effects. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that downregulated expression levels of miR‑193a‑5p may serve an inhibitory role in EOC by inhibiting cell proliferation and metastasis, and promoting apoptosis.