Knockout of MTF1 attenuated the cellular survival pathways in ovarian cancer cells. A. Western blot analysis of KLF4 expression in MTF1 KO and control SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells. B, C. Western blot analysis of phospho- and total ERK1/2 and phospho- and total AKT in MTF1 KO and control SKOV3 (B) and OVCAR3 (C) cells, respectively. D. A schematic diagram of molecular mechanism underlying MTF1 mediated EMT: MTF1 transcriptionally represses KLF4 expression by binding KLF4 promoter, activates ERK1/2 and AKT pathways, and thus promotes EMT. Knockout of MTF1 upregulates KLF4 expression and attenuates both ERK1/2 and AKT pathways, thus inhibits EMT in ovarian cancer cells.