CircularRNA Hsa_circ_0093335 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression via sponging miR‐338‐5p

Abstract

AbstractCircular RNAs play an important role in the development of various malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nevertheless, the role of Hsa_circ_0093335 (circ0093335) in HCC has not yet been explored. To investigate the biological effects and molecular mechanisms of circ0093335 on HCC. Circ0093335 expression was detected in HCC cells and clinical specimens using qRT‐PCR. The association between circ0093335 expression and HCC patients' clinical characteristics was determined using SPSS. The role of circ0093335 in HCC was estimated by overexpression and knockdown experiments in vitro and in vivo. qRT‐PCR, nucleoplasma separation assay, FISH assay, RIP, dual luciferase reporter assay and rescue assay were used to validate the regulatory effect of circ0093335 on miR‐338‐5p. The study findings showed that circ0093335 was upregulated in HCC. High circ0093335 expression was linked with the tumour‐node‐metastasis stage and microvascular tumour invasion. circ0093335 is greatly involved in HCC cell proliferation, aggressive ability and mouse tumour growth, according to many in vitro and in vivo tests. Mechanistically, circ0093335 downregulated miR‐338‐5p expression by sponging, consequently promoting HCC progression. Our research indicated that circ0093335 might be a target for HCC therapy since it promotes tumour progression by acting as a miR‐338‐5p ‘sponge’.