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Updated: Jun 12, 2025

Molecular and Immunologic Techniques in a Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor
07:21

Molecular and Immunologic Techniques in a Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

Published on: May 2, 2022

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circ_SMA4 promotes gastrointestinal stromal tumors malignant progression by sponging miR-494-3p/KIT axis and

Fang-Wen Zou1, Yi-Fang Tang2, Xiaojing Li3

  • 1Department of Oncology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410000, Hunan, P.R. China.

Scientific Reports
|September 24, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Circular RNA circ_SMA4 is upregulated in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs), promoting cancer progression and acting as a potential diagnostic biomarker. It influences cell growth, migration, and apoptosis via the circ_SMA4/miR-494-3p/KIT pathway.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are increasingly recognized for their roles in tumor development.
  • Aberrant expression of circRNAs is linked to various cancers, including Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of circ_SMA4 in the malignant progression of GISTs.
  • To explore circ_SMA4 as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for GISTs.

Main Methods:

  • Human circRNAs microarray analysis to identify differentially expressed circRNAs.
  • In vitro and in vivo assays to assess circ_SMA4's effects on GIST cell behavior (proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis).
  • Dual-luciferase reporter assay, RT-qPCR, Western-blot, and rescue assays to elucidate the circ_SMA4/miR-494-3p/KIT axis and JAK/STAT pathway activation.

Main Results:

  • circ_SMA4 was significantly upregulated in GISTs with high diagnostic efficiency (AUC=0.9824).
  • circ_SMA4 promoted GIST cell proliferation, invasion, and migration while inhibiting apoptosis.
  • circ_SMA4 functions as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-494-3p, targeting the KIT gene and activating the JAK/STAT pathway.

Conclusions:

  • circ_SMA4 plays a significant oncogenic role in GISTs.
  • The circ_SMA4/miR-494-3p/KIT axis is crucial for GIST progression by activating the JAK/STAT pathway.
  • circ_SMA4 represents a promising diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for GISTs.
Keywords:
Circ_SMA4GISTsJAK/STAT pathwayKITMiR-494-3p

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