# hsa_circ_0007376 Promotes Gastric Cancer Proliferation and Malignant Metastasis by Enhancing the Stability of IGF2BP3

**Authors:** LinHu Liang, Ting Han, ZhengRong Zhang, ZhengWu Cheng, HaoRan Li

PMC · DOI: 10.5152/tjg.2025.24491 · 2025-05-20

## TL;DR

This study shows that a circular RNA called hsa_circ_0007376 helps gastric cancer grow and spread by stabilizing a protein called IGF2BP3.

## Contribution

The novel finding is that hsa_circ_0007376 promotes gastric cancer by enhancing IGF2BP3 stability.

## Key findings

- hsa_circ_0007376 is highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues and is linked to metastasis and tumor stage.
- Knocking down hsa_circ_0007376 reduces cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.
- hsa_circ_0007376 binds to and stabilizes IGF2BP3, promoting tumor growth.

## Abstract

This study investigated the action of hsa_circ_0007376 in promoting the proliferation and metastasis of gastric cancer (GC).

hsa_circ_0007376 was detected in GC tissues and cells by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RNase R digestion, nucleoplasmic separation, and actinomycin D assays were conducted to detect the presence of hsa_circ_0007376 and its cyclic nature. The tumor-promoting effect of hsa_circ_0007376 in GC cells was verified by CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing, and Transwell assays. An interplay between hsa_circ_0007376 and insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) was confirmed by FISH, RIP, and RNA pull-down experiments. The function of hsa_circ_0007376 on GC proliferation and metastasis was evaluated in vivo in a GC xenograft mouse model.

hsa_circ_0007376 was highly expressed in GC. hsa_circ_0007376 was associated with lymphatic metastasis, Tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, and tumor size in GC. When hsa_circ_0007376 was knocked down, GC cells were prevented from proliferating, migrating, and invading, as well as being prevented from metastasizing. hsa_circ_0007376 was able to bind to IGF2BP3, thereby promoting GC.

hsa_circ_0007376 may play a role in GC by interacting and enhancing the stability of the IGF2BP3 protein.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** IGF2BP3 (insulin like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3) [NCBI Gene 10643]
- **Proteins:** IGF2BP3 (insulin like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3)
- **Diseases:** gastric cancer (MONDO:0001056)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** Igf2bp3 (insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3) [NCBI Gene 140488] {aka 2610101N11Rik, IMP-3, IMP3, Koc13, Neilsen, mimp3}
- **Diseases:** GC (MESH:D013274), TNM (MESH:D008207), Malignant Metastasis (MESH:D009362), tumor (MESH:D009369)
- **Chemicals:** actinomycin D (MESH:D003609)
- **Species:** Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090]

## Figures

6 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12616968/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12616968