Hsa_circ_0000520, a potential new circular RNA biomarker, is involved in gastric carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been found playing important roles in regulating cancer progression. Human circRNA microarray was performed to screen for abnormally expressed circRNA in gastric cancer tissues. In this study, we are aimed to investigate the relationship between a new circular RNA named hsa_circ_0000520 and gastric cancer development. METHODS: The hsa_circ_0000520 levels were detected by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in gastric tissue, cell and plasma levels, respectively. Then, the association between the expression level of hsa_circ_0000520 and the clinicopathological features of patients with gastric cancer was further analyzed. Finally, a network of hsa_circ_0000520-miRNA-mRNA interactions was predicated. RESULTS: In this study, hsa_circ_0000520 was first found to be significantly down-regulated in gastric cancer tissues, plasma and gastric cancer cell lines compared with control cases. Clinicopathological features showed that hsa_circ_0000520 level in GC tissues was negatively associated with TNM stage and in GC plasma linked with CEA expression. Finally, a total of 9 miRNAs and 9 candidate mRNA were predicted to have an interaction with hsa_circ_0000520. CONCLUSIONS: We first identified that hsa_circ_0000520 was significantly down-regulated in gastric cancer. Our study indicated hsa_circ_0000520 might serve as a novel biomarker for gastric cancer and is involved in gastric carcinoma development.