Hsa_circ_0071271 affected the progression of non-small cell lung cancer through miR-23a-5p.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer ranks among the most prevalent malignancies globally, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constituting the predominant subtype. Currently, there are limitations in the treatment options and prognostic evaluation for NSCLC. Hsa_circ_0071271, a non-coding RNA, has an unclear expression and mechanism in NSCLC treatment. In this study, the impacts of hsa_circ_0071271 on NSCLC progression/prognosis and the possible mechanism of its inhibitory role in NSCLC progression through miR-23a-5p were investigated. METHODS: This investigation employed RT-qPCR to initially determine the expression levels of hsa_circ_0071271 in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. To evaluate the clinical significance of hsa_circ_0071271, ROC curve analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and Cox regression were conducted. The impact of hsa_circ_0071271 knockdown on NSCLC cell lines A549 and CALU3 was examined through CCK-8 assays, flow cytometry, and transwell assays, corresponding to cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration/invasion. The dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to examine the relationships between miR-23a-5p and hsa_circ_0071271, as well as between PTEN and miR-23a-5p. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to assess the correlation between PTEN and miR-23a-5p. Subsequent experiments with CCK-8, flow cytometry, and transwell assays were carried out to explore how hsa_circ_0071271 regulates miR-23a-5p/PTEN and thereby affects NSCLC cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. RESULTS: Hsa_circ_0071271 was expressed highly in NSCLC tissues and multiple cell lines. Hsa_circ_0071271 effectively distinguishes tumor tissues from normal ones and is associated with patient survival rates. Knocking down hsa_circ_0071271 inhibits NSCLC cell proliferation and migration/invasion while promoting apoptosis. The study also revealed an interaction between hsa_circ_0071271 and miR-23a-5p, as well as between PTEN and miR-23a-5p, with their expression levels showing a significant negative correlation. Further experiments indicated that hsa_circ_0071271 regulates miR-23a-5p/PTEN to suppress NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and promote apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Regulating miR-23a-5p/PTEN by hsa_circ_0071271 knockdown has been found to inhibit NSCLC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, as well as promote apoptosis.