Circular RNAs in prostate cancer: Biogenesis,biological functions, and clinical significance

Xiao Liu; Yonghua Tong; Ding Xia; Ejun Peng; Xiaoqi Yang; Hailang Liu; Tao Ye; Xinguang Wang; Yu He; Zhangqun Ye; Zhiqiang Chen; Kun Tang

doi:10.1016/j.omtn.2021.10.017

Circular RNAs in prostate cancer: Biogenesis,biological functions, and clinical significance

Mol Ther Nucleic Acids. 2021 Oct 20:26:1130-1147. doi: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.10.017. eCollection 2021 Dec 3.

Authors

Xiao Liu¹, Yonghua Tong¹, Ding Xia¹, Ejun Peng¹, Xiaoqi Yang¹, Hailang Liu¹, Tao Ye¹, Xinguang Wang¹, Yu He¹, Zhangqun Ye¹, Zhiqiang Chen¹, Kun Tang¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed RNA molecules that play important regulatory roles in various tumors. Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world, with high morbidity and mortality. In recent years, more and more circRNAs have been found to be abnormally expressed and involved in the occurrence and development of PCa, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration, metastasis, chemotherapy resistance, and radiotherapy resistance. Most of the circRNAs regulate biological behaviors of cancer through a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory mechanism, and some can exert their functions by binding to proteins. circRNAs are also associated with many clinicopathological features of PCa, including tumor grade, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis. In addition, circRNAs are potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for PCa. Considering their critical regulatory roles in the progression of PCa, circRNAs would be the potential therapeutic targets. In this paper, the current research status of circRNAs in PCa is briefly reviewed.

Keywords: ceRNA; circular RNA; clinical significance; function; prostate cancer.

Publication types

Review