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Updated: Nov 14, 2025
08:25
Identification of Circular RNAs using RNA Sequencing
Published on: November 14, 2019
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Circular RNA in colorectal cancer.
Toni Li1,2, Wei Cen Wang3, Vivian McAlister4,5
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, Canada.
Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
|March 9, 2021
Summary
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) significantly influence colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, impacting drug resistance and patient survival. These molecules show promise as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for CRC.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
- Genetics
Background:
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are abundant non-coding RNAs with diverse biological functions.
- Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality and incidence globally.
- Emerging evidence implicates circRNAs in critical CRC processes like proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the multifaceted roles of specific circRNAs in colorectal cancer development and progression.
- To evaluate the potential of circRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for CRC.
- To explore the therapeutic potential of targeting circRNAs in CRC treatment strategies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on circRNAs in colorectal cancer.
- Analysis of studies investigating circRNA involvement in CRC hallmarks.
- Evaluation of circRNA associations with clinical parameters such as tumor size, staging, and survival.
Main Results:
- Specific circRNAs are implicated in regulating CRC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis.
- CircRNAs contribute to the development of chemoresistance in colorectal cancer.
- CircRNA expression levels correlate with tumor stage, size, and patient overall survival in CRC.
Conclusions:
- CircRNAs represent a novel class of molecules with significant implications in colorectal cancer pathogenesis.
- CircRNAs hold considerable potential for development as reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in CRC.
- Targeting circRNAs may offer promising therapeutic avenues for improving CRC treatment and patient outcomes.
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