Screening circular RNA related to chemotherapeutic resistance in breast cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Genomics

Background:

• Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.
• Chemoresistance significantly limits the efficacy of standard breast cancer treatments.
• Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as key regulators in various biological processes, including cancer progression and drug resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify specific circular RNAs (circRNAs) implicated in breast cancer chemoresistance.
• To investigate the potential role of circRNAs in Adriamycin (ADM) resistance in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Main Methods:

• CircRNA expression profiling was performed using microarray analysis on ADM-resistant MCF-7 (MCF-7/ADM) and parental MCF-7 cells.
• Differential circRNA expression was validated using quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR).
• Bioinformatic analyses, including TargetScan and miRanda, were employed to predict miRNA targets and gene networks of upregulated circRNAs.

Main Results:

• A total of 3093 circRNAs were detected, with 18 circRNAs showing differential expression between MCF-7/ADM and MCF-7 cells.
• Seven upregulated circRNAs were identified, and their potential miRNA and target gene interactions were predicted.
• Bioinformatics analysis highlighted target genes involved in cancer-related signaling pathways.
• The circ_0006528-miR-7-5p-Raf1 axis was identified as a potential regulatory mechanism in ADM-resistant breast cancer.

Conclusions:

• Circular RNAs play a significant role in the development of breast cancer chemoresistance.
• Hsa_circ_0006528 demonstrates potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target for overcoming Adriamycin resistance.
• Further functional studies are warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms of hsa_circ_0006528 in breast cancer chemoresistance.