Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel type of endogenous non-coding RNA that have gained attention from researchers for their involvement in multiple biological processes. circRNAs are ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotic cells and regulate gene expression at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level by interacting with microRNAs (miRNAs) or other molecules. The present review provides an overview of circRNAs, as well as insights into their roles in the development and progression of gastrointestinal cancer. Furthermore, combined with reported data, the present review investigates the potential of circRNAs to become diagnostic or predictive biomarkers of gastrointestinal cancer and may provide novel insights into the treatment of associated cancer types.
Highlights
Circular RNAs are a novel type of endogenous non‐coding RNA that have gained attention from researchers for their involvement in multiple biological processes. circRNAs are ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotic cells and regulate gene expression at the transcriptional or post‐transcriptional level by interacting with microRNAs or other molecules
Studies have revealed that the RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs), quaking and muscleblind (MBL), may serve as factors involved in circRNA biogenesis [13,16]
The annotation of alternative splicing and circRNA provides a means to investigate the molecular mechanism of circRNA biogenesis and potential function in the future
Summary
Numerous studies have identified the potential developmental functions of circRNAs in multiple biological processes, including microRNA (miRNA) sponges, alternative splicing, and transcriptional or post‐transcriptional gene regulation. Another previous study demonstrated that certain circRNAs are enriched in exosomes and that by assessing levels of exosomal circRNAs, patients with CRC were able to be distinguished from healthy controls [38]. Hsa_circ_002059, a commonly detected circRNA, was identified to be significantly downregulated in GC tissues compared with paired adjacent non‐tumor tissues [10] This suggests that certain circRNAs, including hsa_circ_002059, may be potential novel and stable biomarkers for the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma. Li et al [6] suggested that cir‐ITCH may exhibit an inhibitory effect on ESCC by regulating the Wnt pathway Studies such as these further support the role of cir‐ITCH as a candidate for novel strategies for RNA‐based esophageal cancer diagnosis and therapy. The aberrant expression of circRNAs may serve a role in the generation of radiation‐resistant esophageal cancer cells
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