Advanced and recurrent ovarian cancer has a poor prognosis and is frequently resistant to numerous therapeutics; thus, safe and effective drugs are needed to combat this disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that triptolide (TPL) exhibits anticancer and sensitization effects against cisplatin (DDP)‑resistant ovarian cancer both in vitro and in vivo by inducing apoptosis; however, the involvement of autophagy induced by TPL in resistant ovarian carcinoma remains unclear. In the present study, the results revealed that TPL induced autophagy to facilitate SKOV3/DDP ovarian cancer cell death. The xenograft experiment revealed that the autophagy inhibitor CQ significantly reduced TPL‑mediated chemosensitization and tumor growth inhibition. Mechanically, TPL‑induced autophagy in SKOV3/DDP cells was associated with the induction of ROS generation and inhibition of the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription‑3 (STAT3) pathway. The inhibitory effect of TPL on the JAK2/STAT3 pathway could be restored in the presence of the antioxidant NAC. Furthermore, it was further determined that TPL disrupted the interaction between Mcl‑1 and Beclin1, which was prevented by the JAK2/STAT3 signaling activator IL‑6. Overall, the present results revealed a novel molecular mechanism whereby TPL induced lethal autophagy through the ROS‑JAK2/STAT3 signaling cascade in SKOV3/DDP cells. The present study has provided the groundwork for future application of TPL in the treatment of ovarian cancer.
Keywords: triptolide; ovarian cancer; autophagy; reactive oxygen species; JAK2/STAT3 pathway.