5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy inhibits the viability, invasion, and migration of cervical cancer SiHa cells by regulating the miR-152-3p/JAK1/STAT1 axis

•ALA-PDT significantly inhibited the viability while promoted apoptosis of human cervical cancer SiHa cells.•ALA-PDT remarkably suppressed SiHa cell migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).•The anti-tumor activities of ALA-PDT on SiHa cells appeared to be via suppressing miR-152–3p and thereby activiating JAK1/STAT1 pathway in vitro and vivo.•The study elucidated the underlying molecular mechanism of ALA-PDT on cervical cancer SiHa cells. Cervical cancer ranks the fourth most prevalent type of cancer worldwide, characterized by a notably low survival rate, particularly in its metastatic stage. Despite 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) demonstrating potential anti-tumor effects against cervical cancer, the intricate mechanisms underlying its efficacy necessitate further investigation. Here, the study aims to elucidate the impact of ALA-PDT on the cancer cell viability, invasion and migration, alongside delineating the underlying molecular mechanisms. Cervical cancer SiHa cells were subjected to ALA and red light irradiation, and we then measured the ALA-PDT's effects on cell functions using various assays. The potential interaction between miR-152–3p and JAK1 was explored through bioinformatics analyses and validated by dual-luciferase reporter assays. Post-transfection with miR-152–3p and JAK1 vectors, cellular functions were re-evaluated. The efficacy of ALA-PDT in tumor suppression was further investigated through tumor transplantation experiment in vivo. ALA-PDT markedly suppressed SiHa cell viability, invasion and migration, impacting critical markers of proliferation, apoptosis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT). And these effects were echoed by the inhibition of miR-152–3p. JAK1 was identified as a direct target of miR-152–3p, and ALA-PDT was found to regulate the expression levels of miR-152–3p, consequently influencing the JAK1/STAT1 signaling pathway. Augmentation of miR-152–3p expression and inhibition of the JAK1/STAT1 pathway mitigated the anti-cancer effects of ALA-PDT, whereas JAK1 overexpression diminished these effects. In vivo analyses demonstrated that ALA-PDT suppressed tumor growth and modulated the miR-152–3p/JAK1/STAT1 pathway expression. ALA-PDT inhibits the viability, invasion, and migration of cervical cancer SiHa cells by modulating the miR-152–3p/JAK1/STAT1 axis, offering a promising therapeutic avenue for combating invasive cervical cancer.