Construction of circRNA-Associated ceRNA Network Reveals Novel Biomarkers for Esophageal Cancer

Objective. Esophageal cancer (ESCC) is reported to be the eighth most common malignant tumors worldwide with high mortality. However, the functions of majority circRNAs in ESCC requires to be further explored. Methods. This study identified differently expressed circRNAs in 3 paired ESCC using RNA-sequencing method. The interactions among circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs were predicted using bioinformatics analysis. Results. In this study, using RNA-sequencing method and integrated bioinformatics analysis, 418 overexpressed circRNAs and 637 reduced circRNAs in ESCC sample were identified. Based on the mechanism that circRNAs could play as ceRNAs to modulate targets expression, circRNA-miRNA and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks were constructed in this study. Based on the network analysis, 7 circRNAs, including circ_0002255, circ_0000530, circ_0001904, circ_0001005, circ_0000513, circ_0000075, and circ_0001121, were identified as key circRNAs in ESCC. We found that circ_0002255 was related to the regulation of substrate adhesion-dependent cell spreading. circ_0001121 was involved in regulating nucleocytoplasmic transport. circ_0000513 played a key role in regulating Adherens junction, B cell receptor signaling pathway. Meanwhile, we observed circ_0000075 was involved in regulating zinc II ion transport, transition metal ion homeostasis, and angiogenesis. Conclusion. We thought this study could provide novel biomarkers for the prognosis of ESCC.