Elevated evidences manifest that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are vital in human tumor advancement and chemotherapy resistance. The study was to explore the character of Circ-CUL2 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Firstly, the expression of circ-CUL2, microRNA (miR)-888-5p and RB1CC1 was detected in human NSCLC tissues and cell lines by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction or Western blot. Then, cell counting kit (CCK)-8, plate clone, Transwell assays, and flow cytometry were applied to separately detect the impacts of circ-CUL2 on proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis and cisplatin (DDP) resistance of A549/DDP cells. In this study, exploration of the biological function of Circ-CUL2 was via the Circ-CUL2/miR-888-5p/RB1CC1 axis. The results manifested circ-CUL2 and RB1CC1 were down-regulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, while miR-888-5p was up-regulated. Elevated Circ-CUL2 or refrained miR-888-5p repressed A549/DDP cell progression with depressive DDP resistance. Circ-CUL2 curbed miR-888-5p, which targeted RB1CC1. Restrained RB1CC1 turned around the impacts of Circ-CUL2 on the cells. All in all, Circ-CUL2 is anti-NSCLC via miR-888-5p/RB1CC1 axis, enhancing the sensitivity of A549/DDP cells to DDP. Hence, Circ-CUL2 is supposed to be a novel biomarker offering a brand-new strategy for NSCLC therapy.
Keywords: Circular CUL2; Circular RNA; Non-small cell lung cancer; RB1CC1; microRNA-888-5p.