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Updated: Feb 7, 2026
Use of Alu Element Containing Minigenes to Analyze Circular RNAs
Published on: March 10, 2020
The progress of circular RNAs in various tumors
Dandan Wang1, Sujin Yang1, Hui Wang2
1Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University Nanjing 210029, China.
Abstract:
Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel type of non-coding RNAs, presented as covalently closed continuous loops. Recent researches had found that circRNAs could function as microRNA sponges, regulators of gene transcription and encoding proteins. They were relatively stable and expressed widely in cytoplasm, which played important roles in carcinogenesis of cancers, such as esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, hepatocarcinoma, bladder cancer, glioma, breast cancer, osteosarcoma and so on. Furthermore, they were involved in many biological functions, like cell proliferation, drug resistance, cell cycle, invasion and metastasis. Therefore, the further studies were meaningful on the mechanism of cancers and circRNAs. In the review, we will summarize the current biogenesis of circRNAs and the roles of them in various cancers, which might be a novel biomarker and therapeutic avenue.
Insights
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are stable molecules involved in cancer development. This review summarizes their biogenesis and roles in various cancers, highlighting their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Oncology
Background:
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs forming closed loops.
- circRNAs act as microRNA sponges, regulate transcription, and can encode proteins.
- They are stable, abundant in the cytoplasm, and implicated in numerous cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the biogenesis of circRNAs.
- To summarize the roles of circRNAs in various types of cancer.
- To explore circRNAs as potential cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current research on circRNA biogenesis and function.
- Analysis of studies investigating circRNAs in carcinogenesis.
- Synthesis of information on circRNAs' involvement in cancer-related biological processes.
Main Results:
- circRNAs exhibit diverse functions including microRNA sponging and gene regulation.
- circRNAs are significantly involved in the development and progression of multiple cancers.
- These molecules influence cell proliferation, drug resistance, cell cycle, invasion, and metastasis.
Conclusions:
- circRNAs play critical roles in cancer development and progression.
- Understanding circRNA mechanisms offers insights into cancer biology.
- circRNAs represent promising novel biomarkers and therapeutic avenues for cancer treatment.
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