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Updated: Aug 14, 2025
Identification of Circular RNAs using RNA Sequencing
Published on: November 14, 2019
Circular RNAs: Insights into Clinical and Therapeutic Approaches for Various Cancers
Ikram Ul Haq1,2, Fatima Akram1, Narmeen Nasir1
1Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Government College University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.
Background:
With the advent of cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, circular RNAs (circRNAs) are swiftly becoming one of the significant regulators of gene expression and cellular functions. A plethora of multiple molecular mechanisms has been observed to elicit their influence.
Objective:
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a distinct category of endogenous noncoding RNAs designed as a result of exon back splicing events in precursor's mRNAs (pre-mRNAs) and are widely distributed in the transcriptome of eukaryotic cells.
Methods:
Although the role of circRNAs is still in its infancy, they serve as microRNA sponges, protein scaffolds, and modulators of transcription and splicing and occasionally as templates for the production of peptides.
Results:
It is well known that abnormal circRNA expression is prevalent in malignancies and has been linked to a number of pathophysiological aspects of cancer. This extensively anomalous expression assists in cellular proliferation and growth, sustaining cellular invasiveness and bypassing cellular senescence and death, thus advocating their promise to serve as both clinical biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Conclusion:
An overview of the recent status of circRNA will aid in the identification of new biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and their prospect in the diagnosis and therapy of disease. In this review article, we discuss the functional mechanisms of circRNAs, their biomarker potential in disease diagnosis and prognosis, therapeutic approaches, and the associated limitations.
Insights
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are key gene regulators implicated in cancer. Their abnormal expression offers potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for disease diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are endogenous noncoding RNAs formed by exon back-splicing of pre-mRNAs.
- They are widely distributed in eukaryotic cell transcriptomes and regulate gene expression and cellular functions.
- Their roles are increasingly recognized in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
Approach:
- This review discusses the functional mechanisms of circRNAs.
- It explores their potential as biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis.
- Therapeutic strategies and limitations associated with circRNAs are also examined.
Key Points:
- circRNAs function as microRNA sponges, protein scaffolds, and modulators of transcription and splicing.
- Abnormal circRNA expression is prevalent in malignancies, promoting proliferation, invasiveness, and inhibiting cell death.
- These characteristics highlight circRNAs as promising clinical biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Conclusions:
- Understanding circRNA mechanisms is crucial for identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
- circRNAs hold significant promise in the diagnosis and therapy of various diseases.
- Further research is needed to overcome limitations and fully exploit their therapeutic potential.
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