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Updated: Jan 8, 2026

Identification of Circular RNAs using RNA Sequencing
08:25

Identification of Circular RNAs using RNA Sequencing

Published on: November 14, 2019

12.7K

Therapeutic Potential of Circular RNAs as Targets for Cancer Treatment

Milad Asadi1, Sanam Sadeghi-Mohammadi2, Najibeh Shekari3

  • 1Department of Basic Oncology, Institute of Health Sciences, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.

Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin
|December 17, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are unique non-coding RNAs involved in many biological processes and diseases like cancer. This review covers their features, biogenesis, functions, and study methods, highlighting their role in malignancies.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of non-coding RNAs generated by back-splicing.
  • They are widely expressed and play roles in biological processes and complex diseases, especially cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of circRNA features, biogenesis, and functions.
  • To summarize molecular methods for studying circRNAs.
  • To explain the significant roles of circRNAs in malignancies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on circRNA biology and cancer research.
  • Summary of specialized techniques for circRNA detection and analysis.
  • Categorization of circRNAs based on origin, structure, and biogenesis (ecirc-RNAs, ci-RNAs, EIci-RNAs).

Main Results:

  • CircRNAs function as protein and microRNA sponges, regulate transcription, interact with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and can be translated.
  • Specialized techniques are required to study their unique covalently closed-loop structure.
  • CircRNAs have significant roles in the development and progression of various cancers.

Conclusions:

  • Circular RNAs are versatile molecules with diverse biological functions.
  • Understanding circRNA mechanisms is crucial for cancer research and therapeutic development.
  • Further research into circRNA biogenesis and function will advance molecular biology and disease treatment.
Keywords:
BiogenesisCancerCircular RNADiagnosisPrognosis

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