Crucial roles of CircRNA-mediated autophagy in digestive cancer

Abstract

Digestive cancers are a significant global public health challenge due to their high incidence and mortality rates. Emerging research highlights the pivotal role of circular RNA (circRNA) and autophagy in the progression of digestive cancers. This review provides a summary of recent findings, showing that circRNA-mediated autophagy could either promote or suppress tumor development in esophageal, gastric, liver, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. CircRNAs could regulate autophagy in digestive cancers by acting as competitive endogenous RNAs, influencing downstream target genes and signaling pathways. Dysregulated circRNAs contribute to tumor onset, progression, and chemoresistance by altering autophagy levels. Targeting specific circRNAs to modulate autophagy may offer potential as a diagnostic, prognostic biomarker, or therapeutic strategy for digestive cancers.

Keywords: autophagy; chemoresistance; circular RNA; digestive cancer; molecular mechanisms.

Figure 1

The function of circRNAs in tumor metabolism, proliferation, drug resistance and angiogenesis.

Figure 2

The role of autophagy in cancer drug resistance, metastasis, microenvironment, and immunotherapy [modified from Zada et al. (17) and Niu et al. (18)]. ROS, reactive oxygen species; EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor; CXCR4, C-X-C chemokine receptor 4; SIRT1, sirtuins1; ID1, inhibitor of DNA binding 1; STAT3, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3; ATF6, activating transcription factor 6; LC3, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3; ATG, autophagy related; TAOK3, TAO kinase 3; IRGM, immunity related GTPase M; NFKB1, nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1; JAK, janus kinase; TGFB, TGF-beta; SMAD2/3, SMAD family member 2/3; LKB, liver kinase B; RKIP, Raf kinase inhibitory protein; GSK3B, glycogen synthase kinase 3 Beta; NANOG, nanog homeobox; IFN, interferon; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; IL-6, interleukin-6; IL-8, interleukin-8; NUFIP1, nuclear fragile X mental retardation-interacting protein 1; HMGB1, high mobility group box 1; CCL5, C-C motif chemokine ligand 5.

Figure 3

A summary of circRNAs/autophagy axis in digestive cancers. Tumors include esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer and liver cancer. CircRNAs include ciRS‐7, circ-TTC17, circ_0027345, circ_0011385, circCBFB, circTGFBR2, circRHOBTB3, circATG7, circBIRC6, circCUL2, circHIPK3, circCPM, circPOFUT1, hsa_circ_0001658, circUBE2Q2, hsa_circ_0009109, circ_0091741, circRELL1,circPVT1, circDHX8, circ CUL2, circUBAP2, circCCDC66, circATG4B, circ_0060927, circHIPK3, circSEC24B, and circTBC1D22A.

Figure 4

Interaction of circRNA and autophagy in ESCC, HCC and PC.

Figure 5

Interaction of circRNA and autophagy in GC.

Figure 6

Interaction of circRNA and autophagy in CRC.