Circ_0072088 promotes breast carcinoma progression via modulating miR-607/RNF2 axis.

OBJECTIVES: To explore how the circular non-coding RNA circ_0072088 influences the progression of breast carcinoma (BC) by affecting cell behavior.

METHODS: We measured the levels of circ_0072088, microRNA-607 (miR-607), and ring finger protein 2 (RNF2) mRNA levels in BC tissues and cell lines using quantitative real-time PCR. We also conducted cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), BrdU incorporation, and flow cytometry assays to assess cell viability, cell cycle, and apoptosis, respectively.

RESULTS: We observed increased levels of circ_0072088 and RNF2, and decreased levels of miR-607 in BC tissues. Overexpressing circ_0072088 promoted BC cell proliferation and cell cycle progression while inhibiting apoptosis. Conversely, silencing circ_0072088 had the opposite effects. Our data suggest that circ_0072088 directly targets and downregulates miR-607, which in turn upregulates RNF2, a target of miR-607. Moreover, miR-607 overexpression could mitigate the pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects of circ_0072088 on BC cells.

CONCLUSION: Circ_0072088 drives BC progression by downregulating miR-607 and upregulating RNF2, thereby promoting cell proliferation and cycle progression while reducing apoptosis.