ObjectiveTo further understand function of circular RNA (circRNA) and explore its relationship with occurrence and development of gastric cancer and its value in diagnosis and prognosis of gastric cancer.MethodThe published literatures on the circRNA function and its relationship with gastric cancer were reviewed and summarized.ResultsThe closed loop structure of circRNA made it was enzymatically stable. At present, it was clear that the circRNA acted as a microRNA (miRNA) sponge and regulated the gene transcription by binding with the corresponding sites, even could be as a translation template to participate in the protein translation. Further the circRNA could act on the target gene regulated by the miRNA through the miRNA sponge. The biosignal pathway involved in the development of gastric cancer regulated by the growth of gastric cancer cells. The circRNA was differentially expressed in the gastric cancer tissue and its adjacent tissue as well as in the serums of patient and healthy human, which had the close relationships with the clinical features (pathological staging, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, CEA, CA19-9, etc.) and the poor prognosis and shorter postoperative survival time of patients with gastric cancer.ConclusionsDue to structural characteristics of circRNA closed loop, it has an enzyme stability and can play a variety of biological functions based on miRNA sponge. Differential expression of circRNA in gastric cancer is expected to play an important role in diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of gastric cancer.
ObjectiveTo summarize the role of circular RNA (circRNAs) in thyroid papillary carcinoma (PTC) and the emphasis of future research.MethodRelevant literatures in recent years about the biological function of circRNA and its role in PTC were reviewed.ResultscircRNAs had abnormal expression in PTC tissues. Besides, by working as miRNA sponges or interacting with RNA-binding proteins, circRNAs regulated the expression of proteins that were associated with cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis, which could affect the biological characteristics of tumor cells.ConclusioncircRNAs are expected to be the biomarkers for early diagnosis of PTC or potential targets for PTC therapy and provid therapeutic bases to prevent PTC.
The mechanisms behind diabetic retinopathy (DR) can be ascribed primarily to retinal microvascular abnormalities, excessive inflammatory response and neurodegeneration. Circular RNA (circRNA) is a type of endogenous non-coding RNA with a special circular structure, which is mainly composed of precursor RNA after shearing and processing. It is widely present in the retina and participates in the occurrence and development of various fundus diseases. CircRNAs express in an abnormal way in retina, serving as “the sponge” for miRNA so as to play roles in dysfunction of retinal vascular, inflammatory response and neurodegeneration in the development of DR. Further studies for circRNAs in DR will illustrate pathophysiology of DR more deeply, shedding light on circRNAs becoming novel biomarkers and molecular targets for diagnosis and treatment, thus achieving the goal of early diagnosis and precise therapy of DR.
ObjectiveTo summarize the recent research progress of circRNA in gastric cancer, and to explore the clinical value of circRNA as new therapeutic target and diagnostic or prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer.MethodThe studies on circRNA and related literatures in gastric cancer were reviewed.ResultsAs a new member of the non-coding RNA family, circRNA played a key role in regulating the proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis, and therapeutic resistance of gastric cancer cells. At the same time, based on the stability and tissue-specific characteristics, circRNA possessed great potential as biomarker for early diagnosis or prognosis evaluation of gastric cancer.ConclusionscircRNA plays an important role in the initiation and progression of gastric cancer. As a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and a new therapeutic target for gastric cancer, circRNA has great potential for clinical transformation.
Retinoblastoma (RB), the most common primary intraocular malignancy in infants and young children, poses a serious threat to visual function and the life of children when systemic metastasis occurs. Circular RNA (circRNA) is a recently discovered class of non-coding RNA that mainly functions as competitive endogenous RNA by regulating gene expression through competing with microRNA. circRNA can function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, regulating various biological processes in RB cells, such as proliferation, migration, apoptosis, autophagy, and drug resistance, thereby providing new therapeutic targets for RB. In addition, the differential expression of circRNA in tumor tissues or exosomes is expected to be a potential biomarker for RB. Further studies and explorations are still needed for the functions and regulatory mechanisms of circRNA in RB to reveal their precise roles in organisms and potential clinical applications.