Circ_0060927 promotes colorectal cancer development by sponging miR-331-3p and upregulating TBX2.

Background: The dysregulation of circular RNAs (circRNAs) is closely associated with the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). The present study aimed to elucidate the biological function and mechanism of circ_0060927 in CRC.

Methods: 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry and transwell assays, as well as Xenograft tumor models were adopted for in vitro and in vivo analyses. The interaction between microRNA-331-3p (miR-331-3p) and circ_0060927 or T-box transcription factor 2 (TBX2) was verified by the dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays.

Results: Circ_0060927 deficiency inhibited cell proliferation, autophagy, migration, and invasion and increased cell apoptosis and necrosis in CRC cells, as well as inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Circ_0060927 could bind to miR-331-3p, and circ_0060927 regulated CRC cell behaviors via sponging miR-331-3p. TBX2 was targeted by miR-331-3p, and miR-331-3p targeted TBX2 to exert the anti-cancer role in CRC cells. Mechanically, circ_0060927 regulated TBX2 expression by sequestering miR-331-3p in CRC cells.

Conclusion: Circ_0060927 downregulation inhibited CRC progression by regulating the miR-331-3p/TBX2 axis, which might offer a potential treatment target for CRC.