The biomarker potential of circPOLD1 and its binding protein YBX1 in cervical carcinogenesis

作者：Zhao Lu, Xin Chen, Yanan Zhang, Yixuan Cen, Tingjia Zhu, Lingfang Wang, Lili Xia, Yang Li, Xiaodong Cheng, Xing Xie, Weiguo Lü, Junfen Xu · 发表于：Journal of Translational Medicine · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1186/s12967-025-06494-3 · 被引用次数：7 · 研究领域：Circular RNAs in diseases、Endometrial and Cervical Cancer Treatments、Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer progresses through distinct precancerous stages, making early screening and intervention crucial for prevention. However, conventional screening modalities, such as cytology and HPV testing, face challenges related to sensitivity, specificity, and resource dependency. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), owing to their high stability and tissue-specific expression, have emerged as promising biomarkers, though their role in cervical carcinogenesis remains underexplored. In particular, the clinical utility of circRNAs for optimizing cervical cancer screening and early diagnosis has yet to be established. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic expression profiles of circRNAs across various stages of cervical cancer progression and identify potential biomarkers to enhance early detection. METHODS: CircRNA sequencing was performed on cervical tissues spanning normal cervical epithelium (NCE), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), and cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). Functional assays, including cell viability, colony formation, and apoptosis, were performed to assess the oncogenic potential of circPOLD1 and its interaction with YBX1 in cervical cancer cells. BaseScope and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were applied to tissue microarrays for clincial validation and ROC curve analysis evaluated the diagnostic performance of circPOLD1 in serum as a liquid biopsy marker. RESULTS: CircRNA profiling revealed a progressive increase in circPOLD1 exp...