CircRNAs: Emerging Bladder Cancer Biomarkers and Targets

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are newly discovered intriguing RNAs due to the covalently closed loop structure, high stability, tissue specificity, and functional diversity. In recent years, a large number of circRNAs have been identified through high-throughput sequencing technology and bioinformatics methods, the abnormal expression of circRNAs are closely related to many diseases including bladder cancer (BC). CircRNAs have been proven to have several functions, such as acting as a regulator of parental gene transcription, miRNA sponge and interacting with proteins to regulate its expression. In addition, some circRNAs have been identified to encode proteins. CircRNAs have the characteristics of high abundance, high stability, wide distribution in body fluids, tissue specificity, and developmental stage specificity, which determine that circRNAs has great potential to be utilized as biomarkers for BC. Herein, we briefly summarize the biogenesis, functions and roles, and the current research progress of circRNAs in BC with a focus on the potential application for BC diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.