Circ_0017247 accelerates epithelial-mesenchymal transition in non-small cell lung cancer

Recently, the vital role of circular RNAs is discovered in many diseases, including tumor progression. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most ordinary malignant tumors. The purpose of our study is to detect the potential function of circ_0017247 in NSCLC to offer new biomarkers and targets.

The level of circ_0017247 in NSCLC tissues and cell lines was monitored by Rea Time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). Pearson's Chi-square test was used to determine the association between circ_0017247 expression and several clinicopathological factors. Then, circ_0017247 was knocked down in NSCLC cells to uncover its function in metastasis of NSCLC. Cell migrated and invaded ability was measured through transwell assay, Matrigel assay, and wound healing assay. The Western blot assay was performed to analyze the effect of circ_0017247 on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process.

In the research, the expression level of circ_0017247 was significantly increased in NSCLC tissues compared with that in the adjacent samples. Circ_0017247 expression was associated with lymphatic metastasis. The expression of circ_0017247 was also increased in NSCLC cell lines. Downregulation of circ_0017247 led to the inhibition of cell migration and invasion in NSCLC. In addition, results of further experiments revealed that the EMT-related proteins were regulated via the knockdown of circ_0017247 in NSCLC.

Circ_0017247 could enhance cell migration and invasion of NSCLC by inducing EMT process.