Epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related circular RNAs in lung carcinoma

Abstract

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a highly complex phenotypic conversion during embryogenesis, and is important for metastasis, which contributes to tumor deterioration and poor prognoses of cancer patients. Lung carcinoma has a high tendency to develop the EMT. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in EMT-related cell invasion and metastasis in various types of cancers. Moreover, circRNAs have been found to be a link to EMT-related transcription factors and EMT-associated signaling pathways. This review mainly focuses on the influence of EMT-related circRNAs on lung carcinomas. More specifically, the roles of EMT-inducing and EMT-suppressive circRNAs in lung carcinomas are discussed. With circRNAs potentially becoming promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cancer managements, they will hopefully stimulate the interest of medical workers in the early diagnosis, personalized treatment, and positive prognoses in the era of precision oncology.

Keywords: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; circular RNA; lung carcinoma; metastasis; transcription factor.