• Jinzhu Han, Zixin Yang, Shan Zhao, Likang Zheng, Yanhua Tian, and Yingqian Lv.
• The Second Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
• Eur. J. Clin. Invest. 2021 Nov 1; 51 (11): e13592.

BackgroundIncreasing evidence has shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) serve as vital regulators in tumour progression. In this study, we focused on the functions of circ_0027599 in gastric cancer (GC) progression.MethodsThe levels of circ_0027599, runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) mRNA and microRNA-21-5p (miR-21-5p) were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay. The protein levels of RUNX1, E-Cadherin, vimentin and N-Cadherin were measured by Western blot assay. Cell viability, colony formation, metastasis and cell cycle process were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay, transwell assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. The interaction between circ_0027599 and miR-21-5p and the interaction between miR-21-5p and RUNX1 were verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. The role of circ_0027599 in tumour growth in vivo was investigated by murine xenograft model assay.ResultsCirc_0027599 and RUNX1 were downregulated in GC tissues and cells. Circ_0027599 level was associated with the overall survival of GC patients. Circ_0027599 or RUNX1 overexpression inhibited GC cell viability, colony formation, migration, invasion and cell cycle process in vitro. For mechanism analysis, circ_0027599 positively regulated RUNX1 expression via functioning as the sponge for miR-21-5p. RUNX1 inhibition reversed circ_0027599 overexpression mediated malignant behaviours of GC cells. Moreover, circ_0027599 overexpression repressed tumour growth in vivo.ConclusionCirc_0027599 overexpression repressed GC progression via modulation of miR-21-5p/RUNX1 axis, which might illumine a novel therapeutic target for GC.© 2021 Stichting European Society for Clinical Investigation Journal Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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