Effect of ciRS-7 expression on clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression

Abstract. Background. Circular RNA ciRS-7 has been reported to be involved in the progression of various cancers. However, ciRS-7 expression and its role in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) progression remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ciRS-7 expression on ccRCC and the related signaling pathway. Methods. ciRS-7 expression was analyzed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 87 pairs of ccRCC and matched adjacent normal tissues. The role of ciRS-7 in ccRCC cell proliferation and invasion was determined using the cell counting kit-8 and invasion assays, respectively. Potential mechanisms underlying the role of ciRS-7 in promoting ccRCC progression were explored by Western blotting. The relationship between the expression of ciRS-7 and features of ccRCC was analyzed by the Chi-square test and progression-free survival was determined using a Kaplan-Meier plot. Results. ciRS-7 was overexpressed in ccRCC tissues compared with that in matched adjacent normal tissues. In addition, ciRS-7 up-regulation was closely associated with tumor diameter (P = 0.050), clinical stage (P = 0.009), and distant metastasis (P = 0.007). ciRS-7 knockdown in 786O and 769P cells markedly inhibited their proliferative and invasive abilities. In addition, ciRS-7 inhibition reduced phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor (p-EGFR) and phosphorylated serine/threonine kinase (p-Akt) levels. Conclusions. ciRS-7 up-regulation could promote ccRCC cell proliferation and invasion, which may be related with the EGFR/Akt signaling pathway. ciRS-7 might be a potential ccRCC therapeutic target.