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Updated: Dec 25, 2025

In Silico Identification and Characterization of circRNAs During Host-Pathogen Interactions
Published on: October 21, 2022
Circular RNAs in Cancer: Biogenesis, Function, and Clinical Significance
Jiao Li1, Dan Sun1, Wenchen Pu1
1Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu 610041, China.
Abstract:
Circular RNA (circRNA) is a class of single-stranded molecules with tissue/development-specific expression patterns. Unlike linear RNA, circRNA forms a covalently closed loop produced from 'back-splicing' of primary transcripts, conferring on them inherent resistance to exonucleolytic RNA decay. Increasing evidence demonstrates that many circRNAs exert important biological functions by acting as miRNA inhibitors ('sponges'), protein 'decoys', or by encoding small peptides. Importantly, circRNAs are aberrantly expressed in cancer and play indispensable oncogenic or tumor suppressive roles during tumor development and progression. In this review, we summarize the biogenesis, turnover, and involvements of circRNAs in cancer and also discuss their potential as diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets.
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