EIF5A1 promotes epithelial ovarian cancer proliferation and progression

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the most common gynecological cancers and has the highest mortality rate thereof. We found abundant eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A1 (EIF5A1) in 54 EOC tissues, and high EIF5A1 levels predicted poor survival. EIF5A1 ectopic expression enhanced EOC cell proliferative, migration, and invasive capabilities, while EIF5A1 knockdown suppressed them. Most importantly, GC7 (N1-guanyl-1,7-diaminoheptane, an EIF5A1 hypusination inhibitor) could reverse the effect of EIF5A1 upregulation on EOC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and mutant type EIF5A1K50A plasmid [bearing a single point mutation (K50 → A50) that prevents hypusination] had no effects on these malignant behaviors. Our findings imply that EIF5A1 is a vital regulator of EOC proliferation and progression and is a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target in EOC.