circ_0006089 facilitates gastric cancer progression and oxaliplatin resistance via miR-217/NRP1

Background: Oxaliplatin (OXA) is a vital tool in the chemotherapy of gastric cancer (GC) patients. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a group of non-coding RNAs that have been associated with tumorigenesis. Nevertheless, the function of circRNAs in OXA resistance of GC is unknown. Methods: Circ_0006089/miR-217/NRP1 were elucidated through qRT-PCR in GC OXA-tolerant tissues and cell lines. OXA half-inhibitory concentration (IC50) was quantified by MTT assay. RNA pull-down and luciferase reporter tests were applied to characterize the interaction between circ_0006089 and miR-217, miR-217 and NRP1 in GC cells. Results: The findings disclosed that circ_0006089 and NRP1 was heightened whereas miR-217 was dramatically declined in OXA-tolerant GC tissues and cell lines. OXA resistance was reduced and the proliferation, migration and invasion ability of OXA cells were diminished after silencing circ_0006089. In addition, circ_0006089 raised OXA resistance by sponging miR-217. Further studies revealed that miR-217 bound to NRP1 and weakened OXA resistance. In addition, it was found that circ_0006089 accelerated GC progression and OXA resistance by upregulating NRP1 expression via sponging miR-217. Conclusion: Circ_0006089 regulated OXA resistance in GC cells through miR-217/NRP1 axis, implying it was a promising biomarker for GC therapy.