title: Circular RNAs in cancer: an emerging key player.
abstract: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of endogendous RNAs that form a covalently closed continuous loop and exist extensively in mammalian cells. Majority of circRNAs are conserved across species and often show tissue/developmental stage-specific expression. CircRNAs were first thought to be the result of splicing error; however, subsequent research shows that circRNAs can function as microRNA (miRNA) sponges and regulate splicing and transcription. Emerging evidence shows that circRNAs possess closely associated with human diseases, especially cancers, and may serve as better biomarkers. After miRNA and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), circRNAs are becoming a new hotspot in the field of RNA of cancer. Here, we review biogenesis and metabolism of circRNAs, their functions, and potential roles in cancer.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87th, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yeping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87th, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87th, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhenzi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87th, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87th, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wenwen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87th, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87th, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics of Chinese Ministry of Health, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87th, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chunfang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87th, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China. duancjxy@126.com.|Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics of Chinese Ministry of Health, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87th, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China. duancjxy@126.com.|Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Xiangya Road 87th, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, People's Republic of China. duancjxy@126.com.
authors.forename: Chaojun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duan
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D012326:RNA Splicing; D000079962:RNA, Circular; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000079962:RNA, Circular; D012313:RNA
keywords: Biomarkers; Cancer; Circular RNAs; MicroRNA sponges