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CircRNAs: biogenesis, functions, and role in drug-resistant Tumours

Shuo Ma1,2,3, Shan Kong1,2,3, Feng Wang4

  • 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, NO.20, Xisi Road, Nantong, 226001, Jiangsu, China.

Molecular Cancer
|August 8, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Targeted cancer therapy faces challenges with drug resistance. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are key regulators in tumour cells, offering new strategies to overcome resistance and improve treatment efficacy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Targeted therapy aims to kill cancer cells specifically, but drug resistance is a major clinical challenge.
  • Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as critical regulators in various biological processes, including cancer development and drug resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the latest advancements in circRNA research.
  • To summarize the regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs.
  • To explore the role of circRNAs in chemotherapeutic resistance and their clinical potential.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on circRNAs in cancer.
  • Analysis of circRNA regulatory mechanisms.
  • Synthesis of findings on circRNAs and drug resistance.

Main Results:

  • CircRNAs are frequently dysregulated in drug-resistant tumor cells.
  • Various mechanisms explain how circRNAs contribute to chemoresistance.
  • CircRNAs show promise as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for overcoming drug resistance.

Conclusions:

  • CircRNAs play significant roles in the development of tumor chemoresistance.
  • Targeting circRNAs presents a promising strategy to combat drug resistance in cancer therapy.
  • Further research into circRNA regulation could lead to novel clinical applications.
Keywords:
Circular RNAs (CircRNAs)FunctionsSelf-circularizeTargeted treatmentTumor resistance

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