Circular RNA in cancer: Functions and clinical implications

Circular RNA (circRNA) is a type of covalently closed non-coding RNA that stems from the non-canonical splicing of linear pre-mRNAs. Emerging evidence indicates that circRNAs play multifaceted roles in carcinogenesis, e.g., as oncogenic stimuli or tumor suppressors in cancers. circRNAs have also been shown to be enriched and stable in extracellular fluid, indicating the potential of circRNAs as cancer biomarkers. Furthermore, circRNA, together with its gene silencing ability, also shows its potential in RNA interference (RNAi) therapy by binding to target RNAs, which provides a novel perspective in cancer treatment. 

This Cancer Cell International thematic series is comprised of original articles and review articles which highlight recent advances in circRNA in cancer. 

^{© Chee-Onn Leong}