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circFOXP1 Promotes Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Progression Through Regulating EREG/MAPK/ERK Axis
Leyi Huang1,2,3, Dan Su4, Rihua He1
1Department of Pancreas Center, Guangdong Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
|July 7, 2026
Summary
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) promote pancreatic cancer (PDAC) by upregulating Epiregulin (EREG) via circFOXP1 sponging miR-320b. Blocking EREG inhibits PDAC progression, offering a potential therapeutic strategy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) progression.
- The precise mechanisms of circRNA involvement in PDAC are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role and mechanism of circFOXP1 in PDAC progression.
- To evaluate circFOXP1 as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for PDAC.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative real-time PCR to assess circFOXP1 expression.
- In vitro and in vivo functional assays (proliferation, migration, invasion).
- Mechanism studies involving RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays to identify circFOXP1's interaction with miR-320b and its effect on EREG and MAPK/ERK pathway.
Main Results:
- circFOXP1 was significantly upregulated in PDAC tissues and correlated with advanced TNM stage and poor prognosis.
- Knockdown of circFOXP1 suppressed PDAC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo.
- circFOXP1 acted as a molecular sponge for miR-320b, increasing EREG expression and activating the MAPK/ERK pathway.
- Blocking EREG with neutralizing antibodies inhibited circFOXP1-induced PDAC tumorigenesis in vivo.
Conclusions:
- circFOXP1 is a critical promoter of PDAC progression.
- The circFOXP1/miR-320b/EREG/MAPK/ERK axis is a key mechanism driving PDAC.
- circFOXP1 holds potential as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for PDAC.
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