Therapeutic and diagnostic applications of exosomal circRNAs in breast cancer

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are regulatory elements that are involved in orchestrating gene expression and protein functions and are implicated in various biological processes including cancer. Notably, breast cancer has a significant mortality rate and is one of the most common malignancies in women. CircRNAs have been demonstrated to contribute to the pathogenesis of breast cancer including its initiation, progression, metastasis, and resistance to drugs. By acting as miRNA sponges, circRNAs can indirectly influence gene expression by disrupting miRNA regulation of their target genes, ultimately altering the course of cancer development and progression. Additionally, circRNAs can interact with proteins and modulate their functions including signaling pathways involved in the initiation and development of cancer. Recently, circRNAs can encode peptides that play a role in the pathophysiology of breast cancer and other diseases and their potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for various cancers including breast cancer. CircRNAs possess biomarkers that differentiate, such as stability, specificity, and sensitivity, and can be detected in several biological specimens such as blood, saliva, and urine. Moreover, circRNAs play an important role in various cellular processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, all of which are integral factors in the development and progression of cancer. This review synthesizes the functions of circRNAs in breast cancer, scrutinizing their contributions to the onset and evolution of the disease through their interactions with exosomes and cancer-related intracellular pathways. It also delves into the potential use of circRNA as a biomarker and therapeutic target against breast cancer. It discusses various databases and online tools that offer crucial circRNA information and regulatory networks. Lastly, the challenges and prospects of utilizing circRNAs in clinical settings associated with breast cancer are explored.

Assessing biomarkers for post‐surgical wound healing: A meta‐analysis of exosome‐based CircRNA in breast cancer recovery

“…However, it also emphasized dire necessity for uniformity in biomarker evaluation and a dedication to inclusive approach in the advancement of therapeutic approaches. Additional investigation is necessary to enhance the precision of these diagnostic instruments, to guarantee their successful integration into clinical workflow and to guarantee fair and equal access to these developments for a wide range of patients 29,30 …”

“…Additional investigation is necessary to enhance the precision of these diagnostic instruments, to guarantee their successful integration into clinical workflow and to guarantee fair and equal access to these developments for a wide range of patients. 29,30 Since the pathogenesis of breast cancer is different in different races and different populations, the diagnostic value of RNA carried by exosomes is still different, because the opposite specificity is lower than that of serum-derived exosomes and the sensitivity of plasma derived exosomes in the diagnosis of breast cancer is higher than that of serum-derived exosomes. 31 Therefore, the specificity is better than the sensitivity of single RNA carrier and multiple RNA carriers in the exome, which has good diagnostic value for breast cancer, and is expected to become biomarker for breast cancer diagnosis in the future.…”

“…Additional investigation is necessary to enhance the precision of these diagnostic instruments, to guarantee their successful integration into clinical workflow and to guarantee fair and equal access to these developments for a wide range of patients. 29 , 30…”