Work

Oncogenic hsa_circ_0000247 Promotes Breast Cancer Malignancy Through hsa‐let‐7i‐5p Sponging‐Mediated HMGA1 Upregulation

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are stable, evolutionarily conserved non-coding RNAs with covalently closed-loop structures, which function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors to regulate cancer cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and apoptosis. This study explored the role and regulatory mechanism of hsa_circ_0000247 in breast cancer. The expression levels of hsa_circ_0000247, hsa-let-7i-5p, and HMGA1 were detected by RT-qPCR and western blotting. Biological functions were evaluated using CCK-8, EdU, colony formation, Transwell, flow cytometry, and electron microscopy assays. The interactions among hsa_circ_0000247, hsa-let-7i-5p, and HMGA1 were verified by dual-luciferase reporter assays, and rescue experiments were conducted. Hsa_circ_0000247 was significantly upregulated in 30 pairs of breast cancer tissues and MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and BT-474 cell lines. Knockdown of hsa_circ_0000247 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and promoted apoptosis. Mechanistically, hsa_circ_0000247 directly sponged hsa-let-7i-5p, which targeted the 3'UTR of HMGA1. Inhibition of hsa-let-7i-5p reversed the effects of hsa_circ_0000247 silencing. In conclusion, hsa_circ_0000247 is upregulated in breast cancer and promotes malignant progression via the hsa_circ_0000247/hsa-let-7i-5p/HMGA1 axis, providing a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for breast cancer.

Source: Cancer Medicine

DOI: 10.1002/cam4.72249