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Updated: Nov 23, 2025
In Silico Identification and Characterization of circRNAs During Host-Pathogen Interactions
Published on: October 21, 2022
Expression profiles, biological functions and clinical significance of circRNAs in bladder cancer
Xiaoqi Yang1, Tao Ye1, Haoran Liu1
1Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Abstract:
Circular RNAs (circRNAs), which are single-stranded closed-loop RNA molecules lacking terminal 5' caps and 3' poly(A) tails, are attracting increasing scientific attention for their crucial regulatory roles in the occurrence and development of various diseases. With the rapid development of high-throughput sequencing technologies, increasing numbers of differentially expressed circRNAs have been identified in bladder cancer (BCa) via exploration of the expression profiles of BCa and normal tissues and cell lines. CircRNAs are critically involved in BCa biological behaviours, including cell proliferation, tumour growth suppression, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, invasion, migration, metastasis, angiogenesis, and cisplatin chemoresistance. Most of the studied circRNAs in BCa regulate cancer biological behaviours via miRNA sponging regulatory mechanisms. CircRNAs have been reported to be significantly associated with many clinicopathologic characteristics of BCa, including tumour size, grade, differentiation, and stage; lymph node metastasis; tumour numbers; distant metastasis; invasion; and recurrence. Moreover, circRNA expression levels can be used to predict BCa patients' survival parameters, such as overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and progression-free survival (PFS). The abundance, conservation, stability, specificity and detectability of circRNAs render them potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for BCa. Additionally, circRNAs play crucial regulatory roles upstream of various signalling pathways related to BCa carcinogenesis and progression, reflecting their potential as therapeutic targets for BCa. Herein, we briefly summarize the expression profiles, biological functions and mechanisms of circRNAs and the potential clinical applications of these molecules for BCa diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapy.
Insights
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are key regulators in bladder cancer (BCa) development. These molecules show potential as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers for BCa.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are novel regulatory molecules implicated in various diseases.
- Their roles in bladder cancer (BCa) are increasingly recognized, with differential expression observed between BCa and normal tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the expression profiles, biological functions, and mechanisms of circRNAs in bladder cancer.
- To explore the potential clinical applications of circRNAs in BCa diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapy.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput sequencing technologies to identify differentially expressed circRNAs.
- Analysis of circRNA expression profiles in BCa and normal tissues/cell lines.
- Review of existing literature on circRNA functions and clinical relevance in BCa.
Main Results:
- CircRNAs are involved in critical BCa biological behaviors like proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and chemoresistance.
- Most BCa circRNAs regulate cancer via miRNA sponging mechanisms.
- CircRNA expression correlates with BCa clinicopathologic characteristics and predicts patient survival (OS, DFS, PFS).
Conclusions:
- CircRNAs possess characteristics (abundance, stability, specificity) making them promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for BCa.
- CircRNAs regulate key signaling pathways in BCa, indicating their potential as therapeutic targets.
- Further research into circRNAs could revolutionize BCa management.
