Work

Circular RNAs: clinical relevance in cancer

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: // Zhijie Xu 1, 2, 3, 4, * , Yuanliang Yan 3, 4, * , Shuangshuang Zeng 3, 4 , Shuang Dai 3, 4 , Xi Chen 3, 4 , Jie Wei 3, 4 and Zhicheng Gong 3, 4 1 Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China 2 Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China 3 Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China 4 Institute of Hospital Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Zhicheng Gong; email: [email protected] Keywords: circular RNAs; miRNA sponges; gene expression regulation; biomarkers; cancer Received: June 04, 2017 Accepted: November 20, 2017 Published: December 01, 2017 ABSTRACT Circular RNAs, as recently discovered new endogenous non-coding RNAs, are important gene modulators with critical roles in tumor initiation and malignant progression. With the development of RNA sequencing and microarray technologies, numerous of functional circRNAs have been identified in cancerous tissues and cell lines. Mechanistically, circRNAs function as miRNA sponges, miRNA reservoirs or parental gene expression regulators. In this review, we discuss the properties and functions of circRNAs and their clinical implication as promising biomarkers for cancer research. Moreover, some emerging fields, such as exosome-loaded and immune response-associated circRNAs, are also discussed, suggesting novel insights into the carcinogenesis and therapy associated with these molecules.

Source: Oncotarget

DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.22846