Circular RNAs and cancer.
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a type of non-coding RNA molecules that lack a 5'-terminal cap and 3'-terminal poly A tail. A large number of circRNAs have been identified through biological experiments, computational methods and high-throughput sequencing. CircRNA sequence composition determines if a given circRNA is exonic, intronic or retained-intronic. CircRNAs are more abundant and stable than linear mRNAs, and their expression is both step- and location-specific. CircRNAs mediate transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene and protein expression. CircRNAs regulate cancer development via multiple mechanisms, including miRNA sponges, modulating Wnt signaling pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. An in-depth study of circRNA will provide a better understanding of carcinogenesis and assist in developing clinical diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Department of General Surgery, Jiande Branch of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Jiande, Zhejiang 311600, China. Electronic address: 282740329@qq.com.
Jun
J
He
Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China.
Qichao
Q
Xie
Department of General Surgery, Jiande Branch of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Jiande, Zhejiang 311600, China.
Hailin
H
Xu
Department of General Surgery, Jiande Branch of the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Jiande, Zhejiang 311600, China.
Jiantian
J
Li
Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, China. Electronic address: yli@tmmu.edu.cn.
Yongsheng
Y
Li
D000818:Animals; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics*; D000079962:RNA, Circular
D000079962:RNA, Circular; D012313:RNA
Cancer; Transcription; circRNA; miRNA sponge