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Updated: Jul 21, 2025

Identification of Circular RNAs using RNA Sequencing
08:25

Identification of Circular RNAs using RNA Sequencing

Published on: November 14, 2019

12.3K

Circular RNAs: Emerging roles and new insights in human cancers

Zhilin He1, Qubo Zhu1

  • 1Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China.

Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapie
|July 28, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are novel RNA molecules implicated in cancer. This review explores their functions, biogenesis, and potential as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed RNA molecules with emerging roles in cellular processes.
  • Their functions, including acting as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) and binding proteins, are increasingly recognized.
  • Aberrant circRNA expression is linked to various cancers, suggesting their involvement in tumor progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biogenesis and degradation pathways of circRNAs.
  • To examine the in vivo biological functions of circRNAs.
  • To discuss the clinical applications and future directions of circRNAs in cancer research.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on circRNA biogenesis, function, and cancer association.
  • Analysis of current research on circRNA roles in tumorigenesis.
  • Discussion of clinical translation and future research avenues.

Main Results:

  • CircRNAs are formed by back-splicing and possess diverse biological activities.
  • Dysregulated circRNAs are associated with tumor progression across various cancers.
  • CircRNAs show promise as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Conclusions:

  • CircRNAs represent a significant area of research with substantial potential in oncology.
  • Understanding circRNA mechanisms is crucial for developing novel cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
  • Further research is needed to overcome challenges in clinical applications of circRNAs.
Keywords:
BiomarkerCancerCeRNACircRNA

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