3<b></b>-Hydroxysterol <b>Δ</b>24-Reductase Promotes Ovarian Cancer Progression by Activating the TGF-<b></b>1/Smad2/3 Signaling Pathway
Ovarian cancer (OC) is a highly heterogeneous disease characterized by high metastatic potential and frequent recurrence. 3β-hydroxysterol Δ24-reductase (DHCR24) is closely associated with the progression of various malignant tumors, but its role in OC remains unexplored. This study is the first to systematically investigate the function of DHCR24 in OC and elucidate its mechanism in promoting OC progression, providing novel theoretical insights for targeted therapy. The expression of DHCR24 was evaluated in tissues using bioinformatics and clinical data; the impact of DHCR24 on the malignant behavior of OC was assessed through Database, clinical data, and immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses demonstrated that DHCR24 is upregulated in OC and correlates with poor outcomes. DHCR24 contributes to ovarian cancer progression by upregulating the TGF-β1 pathway, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target in ovarian cancer.