hsa_circ_0002872 functions in lung cancer prognostic and tumorigenesis through regulating ZBTB46 via sponging hsa-miR-29b-1-5p.

Background: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, underscoring the need for new biomarkers. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) exhibit potential as biomarkers for lung cancer. ZBTB46 is linked to lung cancer prognosis. This study intends to investigate circRNA expression and the role of ZBTB46 in predicting and treating lung cancer.

Methods: CircRNAs demonstrate differential expression in lung cancer and paracarcinoma tissues, as identified by high-throughput sequencing (RNA-seq). DEcircRNAs were analyzed through GO and KEGG analyses. A potential circRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis was predicted based on ceRNA theory. ZBTB46 expression in lung cancer tissue was compared to normal tissue. Using the TCGA database, protein expression was compared through the CPTAC and HPA databases.

Results: We identified 411 differentially expressed circRNAs, of which 365 were down-regulated and 46 were up-regulated. By combining qRT-PCR validation results, ceRNA theory, and intersecting data from several databases, hsa_circ_0002872/hsa-miR-29b-1-5p/ZBTB46 was predicted as the most promising downstream regulatory axis. ZBTB46 mRNA and protein expression were reduced in human lung cancer tissue compared to normal tissue.

Conclusions: hsa_circ_0002872/hsa-miR-29b-1-5p/ZBTB46 represents an axis that may influence lung cancer progression, with the molecule ZBTB46 potentially inhibiting lung cancer progression and serving as a useful prognostic indicator.