CircMCM7 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Proliferation and Metastasis By Modulating MCM7 Expression

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide.
• Current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for HCC have limitations, necessitating novel biomarkers.
• Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as critical regulators in various cancers, including HCC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize novel circRNAs involved in HCC pathogenesis.
• To investigate the role of circMCM7 in HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis.
• To explore the potential of circMCM7 as a therapeutic target for HCC.

Main Methods:

• Screening of the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify circMCM7.
• Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for circMCM7 expression analysis.
• In vitro assays (CCK-8, EdU, Annexin V, Transwell) and in vivo experiments to assess circMCM7 function.
• Western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for protein expression analysis.

Main Results:

• circMCM7 was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and correlated with poor patient prognosis.
• circMCM7 exhibited enhanced stability due to its closed-loop structure.
• Knockdown of circMCM7 inhibited HCC cell proliferation and invasion, and induced apoptosis.
• circMCM7 positively regulated Minichromosome maintenance complex component 7 (MCM7) expression, influencing HCC progression.

Conclusions:

• circMCM7 acts as an oncogenic circRNA in HCC by promoting cell proliferation, invasion, and inhibiting apoptosis.
• circMCM7 regulates HCC progression partly through modulating MCM7 expression.
• circMCM7 represents a promising diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma.