Hsa_circ_0057481 promotes laryngeal cancer proliferation and migration by modulating the miR-200c/ZEB1 axis.

As a new type of non-coding RNA, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported to be important regulators of tumor initiation and progression. By using the high-throughput microarray, a recent study demonstrated that the expression of hsa_circ_0057481 is upregulated in human laryngeal cancer. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the role of hsa_circ_0057481 in laryngeal cancer. We found that hsa_circ_0057481 was significantly upregulated in laryngeal cancer tissues compared with healthy normal specimens. Silencing of hsa_circ_0057481 by siRNAs suppressed cell growth, cell cycle progression, invasive and migration potential, and promoted cell apoptosis in laryngeal cancer HEP-2 and TU212 cells. Mechanistically, hsa_circ_0057481 directly sponges miR-200c in HEP-2 cells. Knockdown of hsa_circ_0057481 suppressed the expression of ZEB1, a best-known target of miR-200c. Moreover, the oncogenic effects of hsa_circ_0057481 were partly dependent on its inhibition on miR-200c. Taken together, our findings showed that hsa_circ_0057481 might act as a novel therapeutic target in laryngeal cancer.