TGF-β signaling and N6-methyladenosine with ciRs-7 in cervical cancer metastasis

Abstract

Abstract Background Circular RNAs (circRNA) are a group of influential regulators associated with cancergenesis. However, there has been no report in cervical cancer on ciR-7. Results In situ hybridization showed ciRs-7 was upregulated and positively correlated with lymph node metastasis and worse overall survival. In addition, overexpression of ciRs-7 promoted cervical cancer metastasis in vitro and in vivo. It was also found that ciRs-7 could promote the orchestration of IGF2BP1 on the mRNA of SLUG and stabilize it from degradation. Silencing IGF2BP1 could promote cervical cancer metastasis. Additionally, effective ciRs-7 has been proven to activate TGF-β signaling factors known to promote EMT, including p-smad2 and p-smad3. Effective ciRs-7 in cervical cancer promotes metastasis via activating TGF-beta induced EMT and stabilizing SLUG expression through working as a scaffold between IGF2BP1 and SLUG mRNA. Conclusions Our study for the first time proved the potential role of ciRs-7 in mediating progression of cervical cancer.