title: Circular RNA and miR-7 in cancer.
abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNA) play important roles in fine-tuning gene expression and are often deregulated in cancer. The identification of competing endogenous RNA and circular RNA (circRNA) as important regulators of miRNA activity underscores the increasing complexity of ncRNA-mediated regulatory networks. Particularly, the recently identified circular RNA, ciRS-7, which acts as a designated miR-7 inhibitor/sponge, has conceptually changed the mechanistic understanding of miRNA networks. As miR-7 modulates the expression of several oncogenes, disclosing the regulation of miR-7 activity will likely advance the understanding of various cancer etiologies. Here, we review the current knowledge about the ciRS-7/miR-7 axis in cancer-related pathways and discuss possible models explaining the relevance of coexpressing miR-7 along with a circRNA inhibitor.
authors.affiliation: Authors' Affiliations: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; and Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Thomas B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Jørgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kjems
authors.forename: Christian K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Damgaard
mesh_terms: D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics*; D000079962:RNA, Circular
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D012313:RNA; D000079962:RNA, Circular; C549242:MIRN7-1 microRNA, human