Li Zhi-di, Li Yang-Ling, Lu Jing, Liang Shang, Zhang Chong, Zeng Ling-Hui
Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Department of Pharmacology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Front Oncol. 2024 Jan 23;13:1192386. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1192386. eCollection 2023.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an extremely heterogeneous malignant tumor with a high morbidity and mortality. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are noncoding RNAs with high stability, organ/tissue/cell-specific expression and are conserved across species. Accumulating evidence suggested that circRNAs play crucial roles as microRNA sponges, protein sponges, scaffolds, recruiters and could even polypeptide encoders. Many studies have since revealed that circRNAs were aberrantly expressed in HCC and acted as crucial modulators of HCC carcinogenesis and progression. Furthermore, circRNAs have also been identified as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for HCC. In this review, we thoroughly outline and evaluate the function of circRNAs in HCC development, with an emphasis on the specific molecular pathways by which they participated in the formation and progression of HCC, and we address their potential for serving as clinical biomarkers in HCC.
肝细胞癌（HCC）是一种极具异质性的恶性肿瘤，发病率和死亡率都很高。环状RNA（circRNA）是一类具有高稳定性、器官/组织/细胞特异性表达且在物种间保守的非编码RNA。越来越多的证据表明，circRNA作为微小RNA海绵、蛋白质海绵、支架、招募分子发挥着关键作用，甚至还可能是多肽编码分子。此后许多研究表明，circRNA在HCC中异常表达，并作为HCC发生发展的关键调节因子。此外，circRNA也已被确定为HCC潜在的诊断和预后生物标志物。在本综述中，我们全面概述并评估了circRNA在HCC发展中的作用，重点关注它们参与HCC形成和进展的具体分子途径，并探讨了它们作为HCC临床生物标志物的潜力。
