CircRNAs in gastric cancer: current research and potential clinical implications

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) has a dismal prognosis and is also one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies worldwide. circRNAs are covalently closed circular RNA molecules without 5′‐cap and a 3′‐tail, currently listed among the broad noncoding RNA family. circRNAs participate in a variety of pathophysiological processes relevant to human diseases, especially malignancies, including GC. Compelling evidence has shown that circRNAs can function by sponging miRNAs, interacting with RNA binding proteins, and encoding proteins or peptides. Yet, our current understanding of these RNA circles remains very limited. Here, we overview the biogenesis, characteristics, functions, and degradation of circRNAs. Moreover, we give an account of the circRNAs that have been linked with GC, describing their functions and mechanisms of action in the context of GC. Next, we discuss the potential value of circRNAs as diagnostic or prognostic GC biomarkers and summarize future prospects, important questions, and challenges of circRNA‐based therapeutics.

Biological and clinical implications of hsa_circ_0086720 in gastric cancer and its clinical application

“…Accordingly, circRNAs have attracted more attention in tumor pathogenesis and biomarker research in recent years. In the field of GC, a number of abnormally expressed circRNAs have been discovered, and their functions and molecular mechanisms have been revealed 13,21 . For example, Yu et al 22 reported that circ‐TNPO3 acts as a protein decoy for IGF2BP3 to regulate the MYC‐SNAIL axis suppressing the proliferation and metastasis of GC.…”

“…In the field of GC, a number of abnormally expressed circRNAs have been discovered, and their functions and molecular mechanisms have been revealed. 13 , 21 For example, Yu et al 22 reported that circ‐TNPO3 acts as a protein decoy for IGF2BP3 to regulate the MYC‐SNAIL axis suppressing the proliferation and metastasis of GC. Zhang et al 23 identified that circLARP4 could be an miR‐424‐5p sponge and regulate large tumor suppressor kinase 1 (LATS1) expression to affect cell proliferation and invasion of GC.…”

Emerging Role and Mechanism of circRNAs in Pediatric Malignant Solid Tumors

“…Currently, the detection of circRNAs in tumors is mainly focused on tissue samples, which are more invasive and not suitable for early clinical tumor diagnosis ( Zhou Q. et al, 2021 ; Lu et al, 2021 ; Shen et al, 2021 ) compared to other clinical samples such as serum, urine, and body fluids. CircRNAs are potential novel tumor biomarkers due to their high stability, conservatism, prevalence, tissue, and disease specificity ( Ali et al, 2021 ; Tian et al, 2021 ; Vakhshiteh et al, 2021 ).…”

Research Progress for Targeting Deubiquitinases in Gastric Cancers

“…Additionally, non-coding RNAs, including circular RNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs), play critical roles in modulating GC [ 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 ]. Hsa_circ_0017639, a circular RNA, is increased in GC cell lines and promotes proliferation and migration by increasing USP3 expression by sponging miR-224-5p [ 23 ].…”