The Dysregulated circRNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Were Identified Through Circular RNA Sequencing and Bioinformatics Analysis

Abstract

Background: The research evidence suggests that dysregulated circRNAs are closely associated with the progression of HCC and can serve as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for HCC. However, the status of differentially expressed circRNAs in HCC cancerous tissues and adjacent non-cancerous tissues remains unclear. Methods: Firstly, circRNA-Seq was employed to screen for dysregulated circRNAs in HCC tissues and adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Secondly, differential expression of circRNAs in the GSE97332 dataset was identified using bioinformatics methods. Lastly, the intersection of circRNAs that were upregulated or downregulated in both the circRNA-Seq data and the GSE97332 dataset was taken. Results:The results of the circRNA-Seq showed that there are a total of 2477 differentially expressed circRNAs between HCC tissues and adjacent non-cancerous tissues, with 1567 upregulated and 910 downregulated. We identified 869 differentially expressed circRNAs in the GSE97332 dataset, with 421 upregulated and 448 downregulated. Additionally, we took the intersection of circRNAs that were upregulated or downregulated in both the circRNA-seq dataset and the GSE97332 dataset, ultimately obtaining 13 and 6 circRNAs, respectively. Conclusion: This study identified dysregulated circRNAs in HCC through circRNA-seq and analysis of the dataset GSE97332, which offer new options for the discovery of diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for HCC.