Circular RNA circ_0051620 sponges miR-338-3p and regulates ADAM17 to promote the gastric cancer progression.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common threatening cancer-related death globally. Recent studies indicate that circRNAs play a critical role in various biological and pathogenesis processes, including proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion of GC through sponging different miRNAs. However, the in-depth investigations of circRNAs in the progression of GC remains unclear, therefore in the current study, we aimed to investigate the mechanism behind the circular RNA circ_0051620 in the progression of GC through spooning the miR-338-3p and ADAM17.

Methods: At first, circRNA microarray was used to identify the expression profiles of circRNA in GC tissues. Further, qRT-PCR was performed to detect genes expression. Then, the clinical significance of circ_0051620 was evaluated. Afterward, bioinformatical database, dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to determine the regulatory networks of circ_0051620 and miR-338-3p in GC cells respectively. The Transwell experiments were used to explore the effects of circ_0051620, miR-338-3p, ADAM17 on the migration and invasion of GC cells.

Results: qRT-PCR results indicated that circ_0051620 in GC was over-expressed in tumoral tissues and cell lines compared to the normal controls. Moreover, miR-338-3p was confirmed to be the target of circ_0051620. Overall overexpression of miR-338-3p inhibited the cell migration, invasion through inhibiting ADAM17 in GC cells.

Conclusion: The overexpression of circ_0051620 is found to be associated with progress and poor prognosis of GC, promoting the development and metastasis via sponging miR-338-3p and decoying ADAM17.