Expression patterns of circRFX3 and miR-587 in colorectal cancer patients

TL;DR

This study investigates the expression of circRFX3 and miR-587 in colorectal cancer patients and finds altered levels compared to healthy individuals.

Contribution

The study identifies novel expression patterns of circRFX3 and miR-587 in colorectal cancer.

Findings

circRFX3 is down-regulated in colorectal cancer patients compared to healthy controls.

miR-587 is up-regulated in colorectal cancer patients.

miR-587 expression correlates with tumor size and location.

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non-coding, single-stranded RNAs considered by their closed-loop structures. Research has established a connection between circRNAs and cancer progression. The objective of this project was to evaluate the expression levels of a newly discovered circRNA, circRFX3 (hsa_circRFX3_003), along with its target gene, miR-587. The study involved 60 patients diagnosed with Colorectal cancer (CRC) and 60 healthy individuals as controls. Total RNA was extracted from blood samples, converted into cDNA, and analyzed using qRT-PCR. The findings revealed an up-regulation of miR-587 and a down-regulation of circRFX3 in the blood samples of CRC patients. An inverse relationship was observed between the levels of miR-587 and circRFX3; however, there was no significant difference in circRFX3 expression levels between stages I+II and stages III+IV. The levels of miR-587 expression were linked to tumor size and location. Both circRFX3 and miR-587 play significant roles in the pathophysiology of CRC; however, additional research is necessary to elucidate their specific contributions to CRC development.

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