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Updated: Jul 22, 2026

Detection of a Circulating MicroRNA Custom Panel in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
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Embracing the Circular Journey of RNA in Colorectal Cancer

AmirHosein Barjasteh1, Ayat Heidar Abdolamir2, Abdulridha Mohammed Al-Asady3,4,5

  • 1Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad, Iran.

Current Cancer Drug Targets
|March 4, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are key genetic factors in colorectal cancer (CRC) development, influencing tumor progression and offering new therapeutic targets. Understanding circRNAs aids in early diagnosis and personalized CRC treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of noncoding RNAs with significant roles in gene regulation.
  • Emerging evidence highlights circRNAs as critical genetic factors in the development and progression of Colorectal Cancer (CRC).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biological and carcinogenic functions of circRNAs in CRC.
  • To summarize the impact of circRNAs on key signaling pathways implicated in CRC progression and Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
  • To explore the clinical significance of circRNAs for CRC diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent investigations on circRNAs in Colorectal Cancer.
  • Analysis of circRNA involvement in major signaling pathways (PI3K/AKT, MAPK, Notch, JAK/STAT, Hippo/YAP, WNT/β-catenin).
  • Discussion of circRNAs' role in tumor cell proliferation, migration, metastasis, and drug tolerance.

Main Results:

  • CircRNAs regulate target gene expression, protein activity, and can produce proteins, impacting CRC cell behavior.
  • CircRNAs are implicated in carcinogenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance in CRC.
  • CircRNAs modulate crucial signaling pathways linked to EMT in CRC, presenting therapeutic opportunities.

Conclusions:

  • CircRNAs are pivotal in CRC pathogenesis and represent promising biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis.
  • Targeting circRNAs via antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) or small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) offers potential for novel combination therapies in CRC treatment.
Keywords:
Noncoding RNAcircular RNAs.colorectal cancersignaling pathways

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