Circular RNA PVT1 promotes metastasis via miR-145 sponging in CRC

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of covalently closed non-coding RNAs and are widely involved in various cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC). Circular RNA PVT1 (circPVT1) was reported in several malignancies but the role it plays in CRC remains unclear. In our current research, we focused on the expression and function of circPVT1) works in CRC. We found that circPVT1 was upregulated in CRC. Also, we illustrated that the upregulated circPVT1 was closely correlated with poor prognosis and bad clinicopathological features of patients with CRC. Through a loss of function experiment, we showed that a downregulation of circPVT1 suppressed CRC cells metastasis. Through online prediction, we found that circPVT1 had a microRNA response element (MRE) for miR-145. Additionally, we demonstrated that miR-145 was downregulated in CRC. Even further, we showed that miR-145 was involved in circPVT1 mediated facilitation of CRC metastasis. In a further mechanical study, we demonstrated that circPVT1 could target miR-145. Lastly, we revealed that the metastasis-promoting role of circPVT1 in CRC was partially achieved via miR-145 sponging. In brief, the findings of the present study illustrated that circPVT1, working as an oncogene, promotes metastasis via miR-145 sponging in CRC. CircPVT1/miR-145 axial might be a novel point in targeting treatment of CRC.