Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026

In Silico Identification and Characterization of circRNAs During Host-Pathogen Interactions
Published on: October 21, 2022
Circular RNAs in tumor biology and immunology: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implications
Zhenyan Jiang1, Yong Peng2, Xiaojuan Yang3
1Center for Molecular Oncology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Abstract:
Cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized oncology, yet its efficacy remains frequently constrained by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed RNA molecules generated through back-splicing. Their lack of free ends confers strong resistance to exonuclease degradation and high molecular stability. Within tumor cells, circRNAs govern multiple cancer hallmarks via diverse regulatory mechanisms. Beyond these cell-intrinsic functions, circRNAs can be secreted as intercellular messengers that enter and reshape the TME by modulating antitumor immunity. Clinically, the high stability of circRNAs in body fluids highlights their potential as non-invasive liquid biopsy biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Furthermore, beyond targeting endogenous circRNAs, engineered circRNAs encoding tumor antigens or immunomodulatory proteins represent a promising platform for cancer immunotherapy. In this article, we briefly summarize recent advances in the understanding of circRNAs in tumor biology and immunology.
Related Concept Videos
Abnormal Proliferation
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
lncRNA - Long Non-coding RNAs
