CircRNA RNF10 inhibits tumorigenicity by targeting miR-942-5p/GOLIM4 axis in breast cancer

We aimed to explore the action of a circRNA produced by ring finger protein 10 (circ_RNF10; hsa_circ_0028899) in the malignant behaviors of breast cancer (BC) and to explore its potential action-of-mechanism. The levels of circ_RNF10, miR-942-5p and Golgi integral membrane protein 4 (GOLIM4) were measured through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, or immunohistochemistry, and the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) relationship among them was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Cell counting kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, and colony formation assays, transwell assays, and flow cytometry were used to examine cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and apoptosis, respectively. Levels of proliferation and invasion-related markers were determined by western blot. Xenograft assay was performed to assess tumor growth. Circ_RNF10 level was significantly reduced in BC tissues and cells. Elevation of circ_RNF10 blocked BC cell proliferation, migration and invasion while promoted the apoptosis in vitro, companied with decreased PCNA and Twist1 and increased E-cadherin. Furthermore, upregulating circ_RNF10 delayed tumor growth of BC cells in nude mice. Mechanistically, circ_RNF10 acted as a ceRNA for miR-942-5p, and miR-942-5p could target GOLIM4. In addition, miR-942-5p overexpression reversed the influence of circ_RNF10 overexpression on BC progression. Furthermore, GOLIM4 silencing attenuated the inhibitory effect of miR-942-5p knockdown on BC progression. We found that circ_RNF10 suppressed BC malignant behavior by targeting miR-942-5p/GOLIM4 axis.