Application of CircRNA Circ_0071662 in the diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and its response to radiotherapy

Abstract

Background: Although the involvement of Circ_0071662 in bladder cancer and esophageal cancer has been reported, it role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. The presented research aimed to study its role in HCC. Methods: This study enrolled 60 HCC patients (advanced stage), 60 hepatic angiomyolipoma (HA) patients, 60 liver abscess (LA) patients, 60 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCA) patients, 60 focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) patients and 60 healthy controls (HCs). Plasma samples were obtained from all patients prior to treatment. HCC and paired non-tumor samples were collected from HCC patients. HCC patients received radiotherapy and plasma samples were also collected after treatment. Gene expression was analyzed by RT-qPCR. The role of Circ_0071662 is diagnosing HCC was analyzed by ROC curve analysis. Results: Compared to HCs, decreased plasma levels of Circ_0071662 were only observed in HCC patients, but not in other patient groups. HCC tissues also exhibited decreased expression levels of Circ_0071662 compared to non-tumor samples. Decreased plasma Circ_0071662 separated HCC patients from HCs and other patient groups. After radiotherapy, 28 patients developed radioresistant (RR group) and the rest show no RR (NRR). Decreased plasma levels of Circ_0071662 were closely associated with patients’ poor survival. Compared to pretreatment level, decreased plasma Circ_0071662 was only observed in RR group. Plasma and tissue Circ_0071662 were closely associated with patients’ tumor metastasis and tumor size. Conclusion: Circ_0071662 is decreased in HCC and may serve as a potential biomarker to improve the diagnosis of HCC. Moreover, decreased Circ_0071662 is likely correlated to the development of redio resistance.