SQLE—a promising prognostic biomarker in cervical cancer - implications for tumor malignant behavior, cholesterol synthesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and immune infiltration

Sep 21, 2026

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Cervical cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC), poses a major risk to women’s health, and improved molecular prognostic tools are needed. This study evaluates squalene epoxidase (SQLE) as a prognostic biomarker using TCGA RNA-seq, functional cellular assays, and a CESC nude mouse model. SQLE is increased in CESC, correlates with immune infiltration and immune-checkpoint activation, predicts survival, and links to differential genes, chemosensitivity, and SQLE DNA methylation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time53 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Clinical need in CESC

SQLE and cholesterol synthesis

Zhao et al. BMC Cancer (2024) 24:1133 BMC Cancer [https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-12897-0](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-12897-0) RESEARCH Open Access SQLE—a promising prognostic biomarker in cervical cancer: implications for tumor malignant behavior, cholesterol synthesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and immune infiltration Yue-Chen Zhao 1,2, Yun-Feng Li 1, Ling Qiu 1, Shun-Zi Jin2, Yan-Nan Shen2, Chao-He Zhang3, Jie Cui 1 and TieJun Wang 1,2* Abstract Background Cervical cancer, encompassing squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC), presents a considerable risk to the well-being of women. Recent studies have reported that squalene epoxidase (SQLE) is overexpressed in several cancers, which contributes to cancer development. Methods RNA sequencing data for SQLE were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. In vitro experiments, including colorimetry, colony formation, Transwell, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting were performed. Furthermore, a transplanted CESC nude mouse model was constructed to validate the tumorigenic activity of SQLE in vivo. Associations among the SQLE expression profiles, differential ly expressed genes (DEGs), immune infiltration, and chemosensitivity were examined. The prognostic value of genetic changes and DNA methylation in SQLE were also assessed. Results SQLE mRNA expression was significantly increased in CESC. ROC analysis revealed the strong diagnostic ability of SQLE toward CESC. Patients with high SQLE expression experienced shorter overall survival. The promotional effects of SQLE on cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, cholesterol synthesis, and EMT were emphasized. DEGs functional enrichment analysis revealed the signaling pathways and biological processes. Notably, a connection existed between the SQLE expression and the presence of immune cells as well as the activation of immune checkpoints. Increased SQLE expressions exhibited increased chemotherapeutic responses. SQLE methylation status was significantly associated with CESC prognosis. Conclusion SQLE significantly affects CESC prognosis, malignant behavior, cholesterol synthesis, EMT, and immune infiltration; thereby offering diagnostic and indicator roles in CESC. Thus, SQLE can be a novel therapeutic target in CESC treatment. *Correspondence: Tie-Jun Wang [tjwang@jlu.edu.cn](tjwang@jlu.edu.cn) Full list of author information is available at the end of the article © The Author(s) 2024. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits any non-commercial use, sharing, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if you modified the licensed material. You do not have permission under this licence to share adapted material derived from this article or parts of it. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit [http://](http://)[ ](http://)[creativecommons.org/l](creativecommons.org/l)icenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. Zhao et al. BMC Cancer (2024) 24:1133 Page 2 of 21 Keywords Squalene epoxidase (SQLE), Cervical neoplasms, Prognosis, Immune infiltration, Cholesterol synthesis, Epithelial-mesenchymal transition Introduction Cervical cancer, comprising squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC), constitutes a substantial portion of the global mortality attributed to cancers affecting women. In the year 2020, it registered 604,127 new

FAQs

What is SQLE and why is it studied in cervical cancer?

SQLE (squalene epoxidase) is an enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis and is reported to be overexpressed in multiple cancers. Its role in CESC is investigated for prognostic and biological relevance.

How do the study methods evaluate SQLE in CESC?

SQLE-related RNA-seq data are obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas, and multiple in vitro assays are used. An in vivo transplanted CESC nude mouse model is also constructed to validate tumorigenicity.

Which results link SQLE to patient outcomes and tumor behavior?

SQLE mRNA is significantly increased in CESC, higher expression is associated with shorter overall survival, and SQLE is promoted in processes including proliferation, metastasis, cholesterol synthesis, and EMT. SQLE expression also correlates with immune cell presence, immune checkpoint activation, chemosensitivity, and SQLE methylation status.

Sep 21, 2026

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