Circular RNA-EPHB4 As A Potential Biotarget In Colorectal Cancer: A Preliminary Analysis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the top causes of cancer-related deaths. With the advent of new biomedical technologies, new therapeutic targets are being actively discovered. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are characterized by the absence of covalently closed-loop structures at the 3′ and 5′ ends. Recent studies have shown that circRNAs are abnormally expressed in tumor tissues. Certain circRNAs have been reported to have potential as cancer biomarkers. Among all the circRNAs previously discovered, circ-EPHB4 seemed promising. Therefore, this study is aimed to determine the function of circEPHB4 in CRC. By utilizing in-silico prediction tools, qPCR and cell-based assays, we were able to provide preliminary insights into the role of circEPHB4. The expression of both circEPHB4 and linear EPHB4 were upregulated in our Malaysian CRC tissues and commercial cell lines as compared to the non-cancerous counterparts. Reduction of both circEPHB4 and EPHB4 had effects on wound healing, drug response and clonogenic abilities of SW-480 and HCT-116 cells. Our initial findings suggest that circ-EPHB4 may be involved in the regulation of CRC though further in-depth studies are needed.