Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 22, 2025

Clinicopathological Analysis of miRNA Expression in Breast Cancer Tissues by Using miRNA In Situ Hybridization
06:01

Clinicopathological Analysis of miRNA Expression in Breast Cancer Tissues by Using miRNA In Situ Hybridization

Published on: June 7, 2016

7.0K

circNFIC suppresses breast cancer progression by sponging miR-658

Gaosheng Xu1, Dongmei Ye2, Qiang Zhao3

  • 1Yueyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Yueyang; Innovative Practice Base for Postgraduate Training of Basic Medicine and Clinical Collaboration, University of South China and Yueyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Yueyang 414000, Hunan Province, China.

Journal of Cancer
|May 6, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) like circNFIC are crucial in breast cancer metastasis. Lower circNFIC levels correlate with poor outcomes, and its restoration inhibits cancer cell spread to the lungs.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are implicated in cancer progression.
  • The role of circRNAs in breast cancer lung metastasis is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of circRNAs in breast cancer metastasis to the lung.
  • To identify specific circRNAs involved in this process and elucidate their mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • High-throughput circRNA microarray analysis of primary breast cancer and lung metastatic tissues.
  • Bioinformatic analysis (Reactome, GO) of corresponding linear mRNAs.
  • qRT-PCR, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, in vitro/in vivo functional assays, and mechanistic studies (miRNA sponging).

Main Results:

  • circNFIC (hsa_circ_0002018) was identified as the most downregulated circRNA in lung metastatic tissues.
  • Low circNFIC expression is associated with poor breast cancer prognosis.
  • Overexpression of circNFIC inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation and lung metastasis.
  • circNFIC functions as a sponge for miR-658, increasing UPK1A expression.

Conclusions:

  • The circNFIC/miR-658/UPK1A pathway plays a significant role in breast cancer progression and metastasis.
  • circNFIC represents a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment.
Keywords:
breast cancercircRNAcompetitive endogenous RNAmigrationproliferation

More Related Videos

Synthesis and Characterization of an Aspirin-fumarate Prodrug that Inhibits NFκB Activity and Breast Cancer Stem Cells13:38

Synthesis and Characterization of an Aspirin-fumarate Prodrug that Inhibits NFκB Activity and Breast Cancer Stem Cells

Published on: January 18, 2017

12.6K
Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts from Mouse Mammary Tumors as Tools for Molecular and Computational Studies09:01

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts from Mouse Mammary Tumors as Tools for Molecular and Computational Studies

Published on: July 3, 2025

740

Related Concept Videos

MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
3.6K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
23.7K
Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes01:05

Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
9.3K
Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
7.1K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
4.5K
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.0K