Roles of circRNAs in cancer chemoresistance (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Chuan Xin
    • Fei Huang
    • Jiongke Wang
    • Jing Li
    • Qianming Chen
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 1, 2021     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2021.8176
  • Article Number: 225
Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Circular RNA (circRNA) is a type of endogenous, high‑stability, noncoding RNA. circRNAs exhibit various biological functions, and are involved in physiological and pathological processes occurring in various diseases, including cancers. They can not only act as microRNA and protein sponges, but also interact with proteins, translated peptides, and transcriptional and translational regulators, and compete with pre‑mRNA splicing. Chemotherapy is one of the most important types of cancer treatment. However, the resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy is a leading reason for the failure of chemotherapy. It has been reported that circRNAs play important roles in cancer resistance via a number of mechanisms. The functions of the circRNAs provide insight into their roles in chemoresistance pathways. In addition, some circRNAs may serve as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer resistance. Obtaining improved understanding of the molecular regulatory networks featuring circRNAs in tumors and searching for markers for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer resistance are leading issues in circRNA research. The present review introduced the functions of circRNAs, illustrated the mechanisms underlying drug resistance in cancer, described the contributions of circRNAs to this resistance and discussed the potential application of circRNAs in the treatment of drug‑resistant cancer. In particular, the review aimed to reveal the main mechanisms of circRNAs in cancer drug resistance, including mechanisms involving drug transport and metabolism, alterations of drug targets, DNA damage repair, downstream resistance mechanisms, adaptive responses and the tumor microenvironment. The findings may provide novel therapeutic targets for clinical treatment of cancer chemoresistance.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

October-2021
Volume 46 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Xin C, Huang F, Wang J, Li J and Chen Q: Roles of circRNAs in cancer chemoresistance (Review). Oncol Rep 46: 225, 2021
APA
Xin, C., Huang, F., Wang, J., Li, J., & Chen, Q. (2021). Roles of circRNAs in cancer chemoresistance (Review). Oncology Reports, 46, 225. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2021.8176
MLA
Xin, C., Huang, F., Wang, J., Li, J., Chen, Q."Roles of circRNAs in cancer chemoresistance (Review)". Oncology Reports 46.4 (2021): 225.
Chicago
Xin, C., Huang, F., Wang, J., Li, J., Chen, Q."Roles of circRNAs in cancer chemoresistance (Review)". Oncology Reports 46, no. 4 (2021): 225. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2021.8176