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Review Open Access

CircRNA in non‑small cell lung cancer: Potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Zuokun Wu
    • Zhengfeng Zhu
    • Pengfei Zhao
    • Yongxiang Song
    • Xixian Ke
  • View Affiliations / Copyright

    Affiliations: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563000, P.R. China
    Copyright: © Wu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.
  • Article Number: 297
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    Published online on: August 25, 2025
       https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2025.13662
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Abstract

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors, characterized by high incidence and mortality rates. Non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the predominant histological type of lung cancer. Due to the lack of effective early diagnostic methods, the majority of patients with lung cancer present with distant metastasis at the time of initial diagnosis, often rendering treatments such as surgery and pharmacotherapy ineffective. Consequently, there is an urgent need for a more in‑depth understanding of the pathogenesis of NSCLC and the identification of novel therapeutic targets to enable more precise prediction and treatment of the disease. circular RNAs (circRNAs) are specifically expressed in tissues, owing to their high stability and specificity. The dysregulation of circRNA expression has been implicated in cancer progression, where circRNAs function as microRNA sponges, RNA‑binding protein sponges, gene splicing and transcriptional regulators and protein/peptide translational modulators. These molecules may serve as potential biomarkers for cancer prognosis and predictive indicators, as well as novel therapeutic targets. The present review summarizes the biogenesis and mechanistic functions of circRNAs, outlines their potential role in the initiation and progression of NSCLC and discusses their application as therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. The present review aimed to provide new perspectives for the development of emerging diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for NSCLC.
View Figures

Figure 1

Biogenesis of circRNAs. circRNA
biogenesis is mainly regulated by four different mechanisms: i)
Intron pairing-driven circularization. ii) RBP-driven
Circularization. iii) Lasso-driven circularization. ii) TricRNA
splicing pathway. CircRNAs, circular RNAs; RBP, RNA-binding
protein; tricRNA, tRNA intronic circular RNAs; EcircRNA, exonic
circular RNA; ElciRNA, Exon-intron circular RNA.

Figure 2

Functional mechanisms of circRNA.
circRNAs primarily function as miRNA sponges, interact with RBPs
and regulate alternative splicing, transcription and translation.
miRNA, microRNA; RBPs, RNA-binding proteins; EcircRNA, Exonic
circular RNA; ElciRNA, Exon-intron circular RNA.

Figure 3

Effects of circular RNA on the
biological behavior of non-small cell lung cancer.
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Copy and paste a formatted citation
Spandidos Publications style
Wu Z, Zhu Z, Zhao P, Song Y and Ke X: CircRNA in non‑small cell lung cancer: Potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets (Review). Mol Med Rep 32: 297, 2025.
APA
Wu, Z., Zhu, Z., Zhao, P., Song, Y., & Ke, X. (2025). CircRNA in non‑small cell lung cancer: Potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets (Review). Molecular Medicine Reports, 32, 297. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2025.13662
MLA
Wu, Z., Zhu, Z., Zhao, P., Song, Y., Ke, X."CircRNA in non‑small cell lung cancer: Potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 32.5 (2025): 297.
Chicago
Wu, Z., Zhu, Z., Zhao, P., Song, Y., Ke, X."CircRNA in non‑small cell lung cancer: Potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 32, no. 5 (2025): 297. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2025.13662
Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Wu Z, Zhu Z, Zhao P, Song Y and Ke X: CircRNA in non‑small cell lung cancer: Potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets (Review). Mol Med Rep 32: 297, 2025.
APA
Wu, Z., Zhu, Z., Zhao, P., Song, Y., & Ke, X. (2025). CircRNA in non‑small cell lung cancer: Potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets (Review). Molecular Medicine Reports, 32, 297. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2025.13662
MLA
Wu, Z., Zhu, Z., Zhao, P., Song, Y., Ke, X."CircRNA in non‑small cell lung cancer: Potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 32.5 (2025): 297.
Chicago
Wu, Z., Zhu, Z., Zhao, P., Song, Y., Ke, X."CircRNA in non‑small cell lung cancer: Potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 32, no. 5 (2025): 297. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2025.13662
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