A circRNA-based ceRNA network shows its diagnostic value in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Numerous studies have reported the vital roles of circular RNA (circRNA)-based competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks in cancers. Here, we established a non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)-related circRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis and estimated its diagnostic value in NSCLC.

Methods: The circ_0061235-miR-3180-5p-PPM1L axis was constructed by small RNA deep sequencing, bioinformatics databases, and preliminary testing. The serum levels of the selected circ_0061235, miR-3180-5p, and PPM1L were quantified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were conducted to evaluate the diagnostic power.

Results: The levels of circ_0061235, miR-3180-5p, and PPM1L showed close correlations according to the ceRNA regulation rule. They were significantly dysregulated in NSCLC and showed the diagnostic ability to discriminate between healthy and NSCLC, and remarkably, between benign lung tumors and NSCLC. Additionally, the down-regulated levels of hsa_circ_0061235, the up-regulated levels of miR-3180-5p, and the decreased levels of PPM1L were correlated to more aggressive features of NSCLC, such as lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and higher stages. Intriguingly, compared to the single circ_0061235, miR-3180-5p, PPM1L, and traditional tumor markers, the diverse combinations of circ_0061235, miR-3180-5p, and PPM1L showed much higher sensitivity and specificity to differentiate greater or lesser severity of NSCLC. GO annotation and KEGG pathway analyses revealed the underlying role of the circ_0061235-miR-3180-5p-PPM1L axis in NSCLC.

Conclusions: We established a specific circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network with higher sensitivity and specificity to diagnose NSCLC, particularly more aggressive NSCLC, providing a new strategy for further developing tumor biomarkers.