Xanthomicrol shifts the ERα/ERβ balance and promotes a less aggressive phenotype in SKOV‑3 ovarian cancer cells.

Conventional therapies for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) often fail to prevent metastasis and recurrence. A critical determinant of EOC behaviour is the ERα/ERβ ratio, where ERα promotes tumorigenesis and ERβ exerts tumour-suppressive effects. This study investigated the effects of xanthomicrol, a polymethoxyflavone, on SKOV-3 cells. Xanthomicrol significantly modulated the oestrogen receptor balance by decreasing ERα and increasing ERβ expression, while upregulating the tumour-suppressive receptor GPER. Functionally, xanthomicrol attenuated cell migration and reduced proliferation without compromising cell viability. Notably, this effect persisted for 96 h following treatment withdrawal. These findings indicate that xanthomicrol reprograms EOC cells towards a less aggressive phenotype. Further in vivo studies are warranted to determine if this phenotypic shift can effectively mitigate EOC progression and clinical recurrence.