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Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples
07:03

Isolation and Functional Assessment of Human Breast Cancer Stem Cells from Cell and Tissue Samples

Published on: October 2, 2020

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Circular RNA profile indicates circular RNA VRK1 is negatively related with breast cancer stem cells

Ningning Yan1,2, Haiyan Xu2, Jinnan Zhang3

  • 1Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.

Oncotarget
|December 10, 2017
PubMed

Insights

This study reveals circular RNA profiles in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), identifying circVRK1 as a suppressor of BCSC expansion and self-renewal. These findings highlight circRNAs

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging regulators of gene expression in biological processes, including cancer.
  • The specific roles of circRNAs in cancer stem cells (CSCs) remain largely uninvestigated.
  • Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are crucial for tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To profile circRNA expression in BCSCs.
  • To investigate the potential role of circRNAs in regulating BCSC stemness.
  • To identify specific circRNAs that could serve as therapeutic targets in breast cancer.

Main Methods:

  • RNA-sequencing was employed to screen the circRNA profile in BCSCs.
  • Quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR) was used to validate differentially expressed circRNAs.
  • Bioinformatic approaches were utilized to construct circRNA/miRNA networks.

Main Results:

  • A total of 27 aberrantly expressed circRNAs were identified in BCSCs, with 19 downregulated and 8 upregulated.
  • A circRNA/miRNA network was constructed, suggesting circRNAs may act as miRNA sponges to regulate stemness.
  • Circular RNA VRK1 (circVRK1) was found to significantly suppress the expansion and self-renewal capacity of BCSCs.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first comprehensive circRNA profile and circRNA/miRNA interplay in BCSCs.
  • circVRK1 demonstrates a functional role in suppressing BCSC stemness.
  • circVRK1 represents a potential therapeutic target for targeting breast cancer stem cells.
Keywords:
RNA-sequencingbreast cancer stem cellscircVRK1circular RNA

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