OncoTargets and Therapy (Jan 2024)

Crosstalk Between circRNA and Tumor Microenvironment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Mechanism, Function and Applications

  • Xie C,
  • Hao X,
  • Yuan H,
  • Wang C,
  • Sharif R,
  • Yu H

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 17
pp. 7 – 26

Abstract

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Chenxi Xie,1,* Xiaopei Hao,2,* Hao Yuan,1 Chongyu Wang,3 Razinah Sharif,4,5 Haibo Yu1 1Hepatobiliary Center, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450008, People’s Republic of China; 3The First Clinical Medical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4Center for Healthy Ageing & Wellness, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 50300, Malaysia; 5Biocompatibility Laboratory, Centre for Research and Instrumentation, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM, Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, 43600, Malaysia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Haibo Yu, The People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 7 Weiwu Road, Jinshui District, Zhengzhou, 450003, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86- 371 – 65580213, Email [email protected] Razinah Sharif, Center for Healthy Ageing & Wellness, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, 50300, Malaysia, Tel +60- 3 – 60193009360, Email [email protected]: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common aggressive tumors in the world. Despite the availability of various treatments, its prognosis remains poor due to the lack of specific diagnostic indicators and the high heterogeneity of HCC cases. CircRNAs are noncoding RNAs with stable and highly specific expression. Extensive research evidence suggests that circRNAs mediate the pathogenesis and progression of HCC through acting as miRNA sponges, protein modulators, and translation templates. Tumor microenvironment (TME) has become a hotspot of immune-related research in recent years due to its effects on metabolism, secretion and immunity of HCC. Accordingly, understanding the role played by circRNAs in TME is important for the study of HCC. This review will discuss the crosstalk between circRNAs and TME in HCC. In addition, we will discuss the current deficiencies and controversies in research on circRNAs and predict future research directions.Keywords: CircRNAs, hepatocellular carcinoma, characteristics, tumor microenvironment, biomarker

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