Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are potential biomarkers owing to their stability, tissue specificity, and abundance. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of hsa_circ_0003570 expression and to investigate its potential as a biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated hsa_circ_0003570 expression in 121 HCC tissue samples, its association with clinicopathological characteristics, and overall and progression-free survival. Hsa_circ_0003570 expression was downregulated in HCC tissues. Low hsa_circ_0003570 expression was more common in tumors larger than 5 cm (odds ratio (OR), 6.369; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.725−14.706; p < 0.001), vessel invasion (OR, 5.128; 95% CI, 2.288−11.494; p < 0.001); advanced tumor-node metastasis stage (III/IV; OR, 4.082; 95% CI, 1.866−8.929; p < 0.001); higher Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage (B/C; OR, 3.215; 95% CI, 1.475−6.993; p = 0.003); and higher AFP (>200 ng/mL; OR, 2.475; 95% CI, 1.159−5.291; p = 0.018). High hsa_circ_0003570 expression was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio (HR), 0.541; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.327−0.894; p = 0.017) and progression-free survival (HR, 0.633; 95% CI, 0.402−0.997; p = 0.048). Hsa_circ_0003570 is a potential prognostic biomarker in patients with HCC, and further validation of hsa_circ_0003570 is needed.
Keywords: biomarker; circular RNA; epigenetics; hepatocellular carcinoma; prognosis; progression; survival.