Research progress and clinical application value of exosomal circRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Primary liver cancer (hereinafter referred to as HCC) is the sixth most common type of cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Since patients in the early stage of HCC are typically asymptomatic and there are currently no specific detection methods for the early stage of HCC, the majority of patients are diagnosed in the late stage. Exosomes carry proteins, non-coding RNAs, such as cyclic RNAs (circRNAs), and other biological molecules. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma have a higher concentration of serum exosomes than healthy individuals, and the circRNAs in the exosomes can reflect the source cells and real-time disease status, suggesting it has the potential to detect liver cancer early. This paper focuses on the latest progress of exosomal circRNAs and analyzes the potential value of exosomes in the early diagnosis, treatment, and progression of HCC.