CircRNA_0000392 promotes colorectal cancer progression through the miR-193a-5p/PIK3R3/AKT axis

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging noncoding RNAs implicated in disease pathogenesis, including cancer.
• Increased circRNA expression is observed in tumor tissues, with some acting as oncogenes.
• This study investigates circRNA expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) and the functional role of circRNA_0000392.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the circRNA expression profile in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues.
• To investigate the function of the upregulated circRNA_0000392 in CRC progression.
• To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of circRNA_0000392 in CRC.

Main Methods:

• High-throughput RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed circRNAs in CRC tissues.
• Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) for validation and correlation with clinicopathological features.
• In vitro and in vivo functional assays, dual luciferase, and RNA pull-down assays to determine mechanisms.

Main Results:

• CircRNA_0000392 was significantly upregulated in CRC tissues and cell lines, correlating with malignant progression.
• Knockdown of circRNA_0000392 inhibited CRC cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and in vivo.
• CircRNA_0000392 acts as a sponge for miR-193a-5p, regulating PIK3R3 expression and affecting the AKT-mTOR pathway.

Conclusions:

• CircRNA_0000392 functions as an oncogene in CRC via the miR-193a-5p/PIK3R3/Akt axis.
• CircRNA_0000392 represents a potential therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.
• CircRNA_0000392 may serve as a predictive biomarker for CRC patients.