TY - JOUR
T1 - The circRNA–microRNA code
T2 - emerging implications for cancer diagnosis and treatment
AU - Verduci, Lorena
AU - Strano, Sabrina
AU - Yarden, Yosef
AU - Blandino, Giovanni
PY - 2019/4
Y1 - 2019/4
N2 - Circular RNAs (circRNAs) comprise an emerging new class of endogenous RNAs expressed abundantly by the eukaryotic transcriptome. They are characterized by a covalently closed loop structure, resulting in RNA molecules that are more stable than linear RNAs. A growing number of studies indicate that circRNAs play critical roles in human diseases and show great potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The molecular events determined by circRNA activity, the circRNA code, involve other types of noncoding RNA molecules, primarily microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and RNA-binding proteins. Herein, we mainly focus on the circRNA–microRNA code, showing how this relationship impacts the regulation of gene expression in cancer. The emerging roles for circRNAs in oncogenic pathways highlight new perspectives for the detailed molecular dissection of cancer pathogenesis and, at the same time, offer new opportunities to design innovative therapeutic strategies. Here, we review recent research advancements in understanding the biogenesis, molecular functions, and significance of circRNAs in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
AB - Circular RNAs (circRNAs) comprise an emerging new class of endogenous RNAs expressed abundantly by the eukaryotic transcriptome. They are characterized by a covalently closed loop structure, resulting in RNA molecules that are more stable than linear RNAs. A growing number of studies indicate that circRNAs play critical roles in human diseases and show great potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The molecular events determined by circRNA activity, the circRNA code, involve other types of noncoding RNA molecules, primarily microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and RNA-binding proteins. Herein, we mainly focus on the circRNA–microRNA code, showing how this relationship impacts the regulation of gene expression in cancer. The emerging roles for circRNAs in oncogenic pathways highlight new perspectives for the detailed molecular dissection of cancer pathogenesis and, at the same time, offer new opportunities to design innovative therapeutic strategies. Here, we review recent research advancements in understanding the biogenesis, molecular functions, and significance of circRNAs in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
KW - cancer
KW - circRNA code
KW - circular RNAs
KW - microRNAs
KW - patients
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85061920936&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85061920936&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/1878-0261.12468
DO - 10.1002/1878-0261.12468
M3 - Review article
C2 - 30719845
AN - SCOPUS:85061920936
VL - 13
SP - 669
EP - 680
JO - Molecular Oncology
JF - Molecular Oncology
SN - 1574-7891
IS - 4
ER -