Background: We previously reported GOLPH3L is a novel oncogene associated with
ovarian cancer. The role of GOLPH3L in
cervical cancer and its cellular functions has not been determined. This study investigated clinical significance of GOLPH3L and potential
proteins and pathways associated with GOLPH3L in cervical
squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: Immunohistochemistry and western blot were used to examine the expression of GOLPH3L in cervical
squamous cell carcinoma tissue specimens and adjacent non-cancerous tissues. The clinical and prognostic significance of GOLPH3L expression was statistically analyzed. Cell proliferation rate, cell cycle progression, apoptosis and
cisplatin response in GOLPH3L silenced SiHa and HeLa cells were also examined. Phospho-antibody array was used to identify changes in
protein phosphorylation and the corresponding signaling pathways associated with these changes. Results: GOLPH3L overexpressed in
cervical cancer tissue specimens compared with normal adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Increased GOLPH3L expression was associated with FIGO staging (P=0.033), cervical stromal invasion (P=0.037), cervical canal stromal invasion (P=0.027),
lymph node metastasis (P=0.016) and
positive surgical margins (P=0.015). Patients with lower expression of GOLPH3L demonstrated longer progression-free survival and overall survival compared with those with higher expression. The tissue samples from patients who poorly responded to
neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) exhibited increased GOLPH3L expression levels compared with tissue samples from patients who achieved a
pathologic complete response (pCR). Patients with lower GOLPH3L expression level, poorer
tumor differentiation, shorter NACT treatment intervals and smaller
tumor sizes were more likely to achieve a pCR after NACT. Knockdown GOLPH3L in cells was associated with an induction of cell cycle arrest, increased apoptosis and
cisplatin sensitivity, and a reduction in cellular viability. Phospho-antibody array suggested GOLPH3L plays a role in mediating cell cycle arrest. Conclusions: This study provides a potential
biomarker for predicting prognosis and NACT response in patients with cervical
squamous cell carcinoma. The functional role of GOLPH3L in
cervical cancer merits further investigation.