Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 2, 2025

Identification of Circular RNAs using RNA Sequencing
08:25

Identification of Circular RNAs using RNA Sequencing

Published on: November 14, 2019

12.4K

The biogenesis, function and clinical significance of circular RNAs in breast cancer

Yan Zeng1, Yutian Zou1, Guanfeng Gao1

  • 1Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China.

Cancer Biology & Medicine
|June 10, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are crucial in cancer, particularly breast cancer (BC). This review clarifies their roles in BC development and potential as diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are noncoding RNAs with a unique closed-loop structure.
  • CircRNAs are increasingly recognized for their dysregulation in various cancers, including breast cancer (BC).
  • They play significant roles in tumorigenesis, cancer diagnosis, and therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biogenesis and biological functions of circRNAs.
  • To elaborate on the specific functional roles of circRNAs in breast cancer.
  • To highlight the potential of circRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in BC.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on circRNAs and breast cancer.
  • Systematic overview of circRNA biogenesis and function.
  • Analysis of studies detailing circRNA involvement in BC pathogenesis and treatment.

Main Results:

  • CircRNAs function through various mechanisms, including acting as microRNA sponges and binding to proteins.
  • Evidence suggests critical roles for circRNAs in breast cancer development and progression.
  • CircRNAs show promise as novel biomarkers for BC diagnosis and as targets for novel therapies.

Conclusions:

  • CircRNAs are significantly implicated in breast cancer, influencing its development and progression.
  • Understanding circRNA mechanisms in BC is essential for advancing cancer research.
  • CircRNAs represent a promising avenue for developing innovative diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions for breast cancer.
Keywords:
Breast cancercarcinogenesiscircular RNAstargeted therapytumor biomarker

More Related Videos

In Silico Identification and Characterization of circRNAs During Host-Pathogen Interactions10:27

In Silico Identification and Characterization of circRNAs During Host-Pathogen Interactions

Published on: October 21, 2022

1.8K
Use of Alu Element Containing Minigenes to Analyze Circular RNAs13:10

Use of Alu Element Containing Minigenes to Analyze Circular RNAs

Published on: March 10, 2020

7.5K

Related Concept Videos

The Nucleolus02:55

The Nucleolus

The nucleolus is the most prominent substructure of the nucleus. When it was first discovered, it was considered to be an isolated organelle that forms fibrils and granules. In 1931, the relationship between the nucleolus and chromosomes was first described by Heitz. He observed that the appearance and size of nucleolus varies depending on the stage of the cell cycle. He also noticed constricted regions on different chromosomes clustered together at definite cell cycle stages. These regions,...
9.6K
piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs02:57

piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs

PIWI-interacting RNAs, or piRNAs, are the most abundant short non-coding RNAs. More than 20,000 genes have been found in humans that code for piRNAs while only 2000 genes have been found for miRNAs. piRNAs can act at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and have a vital role in silencing transposable elements present in germ cells. They are also involved in epigenetic silencing and activation. Previously, they were thought to function only in germ cells but new evidence suggests...
7.2K
lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs02:39

lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs

In humans, more than 80% of the genome gets transcribed. However, only around 2% of the genome codes for proteins. The remaining part produces non-coding RNAs which includes ribosomal RNAs, transfer RNAs, telomerase RNAs, and regulatory RNAs, among other types. A large number of regulatory non-coding RNAs have been classified into two groups depending upon their length – small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNA, which are less than 200 nucleotides in length, and long non-coding RNA...
9.2K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
3.3K
MicroRNAs01:22

MicroRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After...
22.6K
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer01:03

Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer

Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand  RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
5.7K