Detecting plasma hsa_circ_0061276 in patients with gastric cancer by reverse transcription-digital polymerase chain reaction

Background The role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the occurrence of gastric cancer is still unclear. Therefore, the diagnostic value and mechanisms underlying hsa_circ_0061276 in the occurrence of gastric cancer were explored. Methods Reverse transcription-droplet digital polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the copy number of hsa_circ_0061276 in plasma from healthy individuals, as well as from patients with gastric precancerous lesions or early-stage or advanced gastric cancer. Plasmids overexpressing or knocking down hsa_circ_0061276 expression were transfected into gastric cancer cells. The effects on the growth, migration, and cell cycle distribution of gastric cancer cells were then analyzed. Finally, miRanda and RNAhybrid were used to explore the binding sites between hsa_circ_0061276 and microRNAs (miRNAs). A double luciferase reporter gene assay was used to confirm the miRNA sponge effect. Results The results show that plasma hsa_circ_0061276 copy number showed a trend of a gradual decrease when comparing healthy controls to the early cancer group and advanced gastric cancer group. Overexpression of hsa_circ_0061276 inhibited the growth and migration of gastric cancer cells. Through bioinformatic analyses combined with cellular experiments, it was found that hsa_circ_0061276 inhibited the growth of gastric cancer by binding to hsa-miR-7705. Conclusion Hsa_circ_0061276 may be a new biomarker for gastric cancer. The tumor suppressor role of hsa_circ_0061276 on gastric cancer likely occurs through a sponge effect on miRNAs such as hsa-miR-7705.