CircRNA _ 069718 promotes cell proliferation and invasion in triple-negative breast cancer by activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway

OBJECTIVE: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play critical roles in tumorigenesis. In the present study, we aimed to explore the potential regulatory mechanism of circRNA_069718 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: CircRNA_069718 expression levels in TNBC tissues and cell lines were determined by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). In vitro function assays were used to determine the functional roles of circRNA_069718 in TNBC and were explored by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay, transwell assay. and flow cytometric analysis. QRT-PCR and Western blot were used to explore the effects of circRNA_0023642 on the expression of Wnt/beta-catenin pathway-related genes. RESULTS: We found that circRNA_069718 expression was significantly increased in TNBC tissues and cell lines. High circRNA 069718 expression was significantly correlated with advanced TNM stage. lymph node metastasis. and poor overall survival of TNBC patients. Functionally. we showed that circRNA_069718 inhibition significantly reduced TNBC cells proliferation and invasion ability in vitro. Mechanically, we found that circRNA 069718 inhibition reduced the expression levels of Wnt/beta-catenin pathway-related genes (beta-catenin, c-myc, and cyclin D1). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that circRNA 069718 promoted TNBC progression via Wnt/beta-catenin pathway and could serve as a novel therapeutic target for TNBC treatment.