• The role of circular RNAs in thyroid cancer
  • Alireza Aghajani,1 Eshagh Sedighi,2 Sama Azizi Hezaveh,3 Fatemeh Maleki,4 Pouya Ghaderi,5,*
    1. Student research committee, Anzali International Medical Campus, Guilan University of Medical Science, Guilan, Iran
    2. Department of ..., Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran
    3. Student Research Committee,Markazi university of Medical science,Arak,Iran
    4. Student Research Committee ,Markazi university of Medical science, Arak, Iran
    5. Internship, Student of Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran


  • Introduction: Introduction: The incidence rate of thyroid carcinoma (TC) has increased significantly during the last decade and has become the fourth tumor in women. Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common widespread endocrine malignancy, especially in women. A large number of circRNAs in cancer tissues have been identified and investigated. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently linked single-stranded RNA molecules that have unique properties and very powerful biological functions. A large number of studies have reported circular RNAs (circRNAs) as potential novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for thyroid cancer. Thousands of circRNAs have been identified as oncogenes or tumor suppressors that mediate tumorigenesis, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance in several cancers (such as TC, colorectal cancer, and kidney cancer). Most of the circRNAs that promote the proliferation of thyroid cells fulfill their role by acting as miRNA sponges.
  • Methods: Search method: In the upcoming systematic review, the required data were collected using keywords and also by using reliable databases such as PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest and Google Scholar. In this study, the statistical population includes all studies that have been conducted until 2022. After reviewing the relevant findings and also evaluating the quality of the data, 16 articles were analyzed.
  • Results: Findings: CircRNAs have a great diagnostic and therapeutic value in cancer and also play a role in the initiation of thyroid carcinoma. Many circRNA-miRNA-mRNA axes have been reported to be associated with the development of malignant diseases. Currently, the activities of circRNAs are mainly recognized as sponging specific and unique miRNAs that act as tumor suppressors or promoters. PI3K-AKT-mTOR signal transduction is increased in patients with primary cancer. Several studies have reported that circRNA activates the PI3K-AKT channel and promotes TC progression. evaluated the association between circRNA expression and clinical features in PTC, and some dysregulated circRNAs were associated with BRAFV600E mutation, capsular invasion, advanced T stage, and lymph node metastasis. The expression patterns of circRNAs are related to the progression and prognosis of TC, so they have great value as biomarkers in the management of TC patients. Exosomes have been reported to participate in intercellular communication by transporting their cargoes, including miRNAs, lncRNAs, proteins, and even circRNAs, to recipient cells, thereby regulating tumor progression. Exosome modification clarifies a new path for the diagnosis and treatment of TC and thus brings the great potential of exosomal circRNA as an important biomarker and therapeutic tool for TC.
  • Conclusion: Conclusion: In summary, circRNAs constitute an emerging class of ncRNAs that play an important role in gene expression regulation by controlling miRNA and protein functions. The results indicated that those dysregulated circRNAs may act as miRNA sponges and lead to PTC progression, but the specific underlying mechanism needs further investigation. Our review pointed out and summarized the growing statistics and development of studies on TC-related circRNAs, and similarly highlighted male or female circRNAs that could play an oncogenic, anticancer or chemosensitivity role within tumorigenesis, metastasis and TC treatment resistance. This review highlights the expression of circRNAs in TC and increases the potential of circRNA as a regulatory molecule, diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic tool in TC research. Taken together, circRNAs with their distinct properties are more stable in cells and can even induce drug resistance, thus suggesting that they may be used to diagnose and treat malignancies. Research on circRNA and thyroid cancer is still ongoing. Indeed, the ability of circRNA to function by binding to DNA or proteins as well as modifying methylation is also very promising.
  • Keywords: Keywords: Thyroid Neoplasms, RNA, Circular, Neoplasm Metastasis