转录因子AP-2α（TFAP2A）是一个关键的细胞生长调节因子，在各种肿瘤组织中过度表达。然而，它在宫颈癌发展中的作用仍然未知。因此，在本研究中，探索了公共数据库，并发现TFAP2A在宫颈癌中高表达。共收集了131个临床样本，并发现TFAP2A在宫颈肿瘤组织中高表达。TFAP2A还与更高的肿瘤分期、淋巴结转移和患者生存率下降有关。体外实验表明，TFAP2A的沉默抑制了宫颈癌细胞的增殖和迁移，促进了细胞凋亡。此外，观察到TFAP2A能够结合程序性死亡配体1（PD-L1）的启动子区域，并且PD-L1恢复了TFAP2A表达。体内实验也揭示了TFAP2A促进肿瘤生长的情况。综上所述，本研究证明了TFAP2A是PD-L1的转录因子，是一种具有临床价值的预后因子，并确定了TFAP2A/PD-L1正反馈环路。

Transcription factor AP‑2 alpha (TFAP2A) is a critical cell growth regulator that is overexpressed in various tumor tissues. However, its role in the development of cervical cancer remains unknown. In the present study, public databases were thus explored and a higher expression of TFAP2A was found in cervical cancer. A total of 131 clinical samples were collected and it was also identified that TFAP2A was highly expressed in cervical tumor tissues. TFAP2A was also found to be associated with a higher tumor stage, lymph node metastasis and a poor patient survival. In vitro experiments revealed that the knockdown of TFAP2A inhibited the proliferation and migration of cervical cancer cells and promoted apoptosis. Furthermore, it was observed that TFAP2A could bind the programmed death‑ligand 1 (PD‑L1) promoter region and PD‑L1 rescued TFAP2A expression. In vivo experiments also revealed that TFAP2A promoted tumor growth. Collectively, in the present study it was demonstrated that TFAP2A is a transcription factor of PD‑L1 and a prognostic factor with clinical value, identifying a positive feedback loop of TFAP2A/PD‑L1.