CircRNA_0109291 regulates cell growth and migration in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its clinical significance

Abstract

<em><strong>Objective(s):</strong></em> Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a new class of non-coding RNAs, have emerged as important regulators during tumorigenesis. However, the functions of circRNAs have not been completely clarified in the progression of cancers. In our study, a novel circRNA hsa_circ_0109291 was investigated in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tissues and cell lines. <br /><em><strong>Materials and Methods:</strong></em> The expression profile of circRNAs in OSCC tumor tissues was performed by high-throughput sequencing. The CCK-8 wound healing and apoptosis assay were measured in OSCC cell lines after transfection with si-0109291 or si-NC. <br /><em><strong>Results:</strong></em> We discovered that hsa_circ_0109291 was significantly increased in OSCC tissues and cell lines compared with their corresponding control group. Knockdown of hsa_circ_0109291 inhibited proliferation and migration of OSCC cell lines in vitro. In addition, inhibition of hsa_circ_0109291 dramatically induced apoptosis of OSCC cells. We further found that high hsa_circ_0109291 levels in OSCC patients resulted in a poorer prognosis than in patients with low hsa_circ_0109291 levels. <br /><em><strong>Conclusion:</strong></em> These findings indicated that hsa_circ_0109291 correlated with the progression of OSCC and might be a new therapeutic target for the treatment of OSCC.