circ_BICD2 acts as a ceRNA to promote tumor progression and Warburg effect in oral squamous cell carcinoma by sponging miR-107 to enhance HK2.

Numerous studies have proved that the Warburg effect serves a vital role involved in regulating the progression of malignant tumors. Previous studies confirmed that circRNAs act as a novel biomarker for diagnostic and therapeutic in various tumors. However, the functional role and mechanism of circ_BICD2 for the regulation of tumor growth and metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) via mediating the Warburg effect are largely unknown. In this study, we found that circ_BICD2 was upregulated in OSCC tumor tissues and cell lines. Inhibition of circ_BICD2 significantly decreased glycolysis, cell proliferation, migration and invasion of OSCC. Moreover, dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that circ_BICD2 directly targeted miR-107, as well as a targeted binding between miR-107 and HK2. Mechanistically, upregulation of miR-107 by circ_BICD2-silenced inhibited tumor growth by downregulating the HK2-mediated Warburg effect in OSCC. In conclusion, our findings suggested that circ_BICD2-deficient exerted anti-tumorigenesis and anti-glycolysis in OSCC by sponging miR-107 to downregulate HK2 expression, which provided a new potential therapeutic biomarker for OSCC clinical treatment.