Circular RNAs in colorectal cancer: Possible roles in regulation of cancer cells

作者：María I. Taborda, Sebastián Ramírez, Giuliano Bernal · 发表于：World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology · 年份：2017 · DOI：10.4251/wjgo.v9.i2.62 · 被引用次数：74 · 研究领域：Circular RNAs in diseases、MicroRNA in disease regulation、Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world and the fourth principal cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Currently, there is a lack of low cost and noninvasive screening tests for CRC, becoming a serious health problem. In this context, a potential biomarker for the early detection of CRC has recently gained attention. Circular RNAs (circRNA), a re-discovered, abundant RNA specie, is a type of noncoding covalent closed RNAs formed from both exonic and intronic sequences. These circular molecules are widely expressed in cells, exceeding the abundance of the traditional linear mRNA transcript. They can regulate gene expression, acting as real sponges for miRNAs and also regulate alternative splicing or act as transcriptional factors and inclusive encoding for proteins. However, little is known about circRNA and its relationship with CRC. In this review, we focus on the biogenesis, function and role of these circRNAs in relation to CRC, including their potential as a new biomarker.