Emerging roles of circular RNAs in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: functions and implications

作者：A Ma, Yuzhong Yang, Lu Lu, Yan Zhang, Xuemei Zhang, Jinhua Zheng, Xiang Zheng · 发表于：Cell Death Discovery · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1038/s41420-024-01964-x · 被引用次数：7 · 研究领域：Circular RNAs in diseases、Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research、MicroRNA in disease regulation

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a distinct malignancy primarily prevalent in Southern China and Southeast Asia. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a class of non-coding RNAs, are evolutionarily conserved and exhibit remarkable stability. Their dysregulation has been observed in various cancers, including NPC. In this review, we investigate the pivotal role of circRNAs in NPC, focusing specifically on their involvement in tumor proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, angiogenesis, stemness, metabolism, and the tumor microenvironment. We highlight the diagnostic and prognostic potential of circRNAs in NPC, emphasizing their utility as biomarkers for early detection, disease monitoring, and prediction of treatment outcomes. Additionally, we explore the therapeutic implications of circRNAs in NPC, highlighting their potential for targeted therapies.