To explore the effects of niraparib (Nira) on ovarian cancer cell proliferation and migration by inhibiting the wingless MMTV integration site family member (Wnt)/beta-catenin (β-catenin) signaling pathway through the regulation of transcription factor 4 gene (TCF4).

SKOV3 cells were divided into control group (normal culture without any treatment), OE-NC group (10 μmol·L^-1 Nira+ transfection OE-NC treatment) and OE-TCF4 group (10 μmol·L^-1 Nira+ transfection OE-TCF4 treatment), experimental-L, M, H groups (5, 10, 15 μmol·L^-1 Nira treatment). Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression level of TCF4; cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8); and cell invasion ability was detected by Transwell. The expression levels of Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related proteins were detected by immunofluorescence.

The 48 h cell survival rates in control group, experimental-L, -M, -H groups were (98.96±3.13)%, (77.53±7.03)%, (58.31±7.52)% and (35.88±5.97)%, respectively. The relative mRNA expression levels of TCF4 in the control group and the experimental-M group were 1.00±0.16 and 0.45±0.07, respectively; while the relative protein expression levels of TCF4 were 1.00±0.12 and 0.43±0.06, respectively. The number of invasive cells in control group, experimental-M group, OE-NC group and OE-TCF4 group were 115.77±16.57, 60.81±8.80, 66.43±8.98 and 99.25±13.73, respectively; the relative fluorescence intensities of β-catenin were 1.00±0.13, 0.15±0.03, 0.17±0.04 and 0.60±0.11; the relative fluorescence intensities of cancer-Myc were 1.00±0.15, 0.07±0.01, 0.08±0.02 and 0.54±0.09, respectively; the relative fluorescence intensities of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were 1.00±0.13, 0.06±0.01, 0.07±0.02 and 0.28±0.05, respectively. The control group was compared with experimental-M group, and the OE-TCF4 group was compared with OE-NC group, there were statistically significant differences in the above indexes (all P<0.05).

Nira can inhibit the activity and invasion of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells, which may be related to the down-regulation of TCF4 to inhibit the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.