干细胞相关基因REX1与一些肿瘤的发生和发展有关,然而在宫颈癌中未见研究报道。我们的前期研究发现REX1在宫颈癌组织中的表达显著高于正常宫颈组织；过度表达REX1可促进宫颈癌细胞HeLa和SiHa在体内、外的侵袭和转移能力，促进肿瘤球的形成，而且干扰REX1的表达则会出现相反现象。全转录组测序发现REX1的表达改变了多个侵袭/转移相关基因的表达，并改变了SOCS2/STAT3等信号通路的活性。我们推测REX1可能通过SOCS2/STAT3通路调控宫颈癌细胞侵袭/转移，并维持宫颈癌干细胞的特性。本项目拟验证全转录组测序结果，结合肿瘤球蛋白组学分析，阐明REX1促进宫颈癌浸润/转移，及维持癌干细胞特性的分子机制，以期获得与宫颈癌转移和复发相关的分子标志和治疗靶点。

REX1 gene is a stem cell associated gene that plays roles in the occurrence and development of certain cancers. However, the function and mechanisms of REX1 in cervical carcinogenesis are still not clear. Our previous study showed significantly higher expression of REX1 in cervical cancer tissue compared with normal cervix; over-expression of REX1 promoted the cell migration in vitro and invasion/metastasis in vivo, whereas silencing of REX1 reversed the phenomena. Expression profile analysis revealed that REX1 regulated the expression of cell migration and invasion related genes and altered the SOCS2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Based on these evidence, we propose that REX1 could maintain the stem cell character of cervical cancer cells and regulate the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells via the SOCS2/STAT3 pathway. We plan to confirm the sequencing profile data, and conduct the protein expression profile analysis, to investigate the detailed molecular mechanisms that control the cancer cell invasion and metastasis. The study will not only help to find novel molecular markers to guide diagnosis, but also the therapeutic targets for precision treatment.