Emerging landscape of circular RNAs as biomarkers and pivotal regulators in osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma represents the most prevailing primary bone tumor and the third most common cancer in children and adolescents worldwide. Among noncoding RNAs, circular RNAs (circRNAs) refer to a unique class in the shape of a covalently closed continuous loop with neither 5′ caps nor 3′‐polyadenylated tails, which are generated through back‐splicing. Recently, with the development of whole‐genome and transcriptome sequencing technologies, a growing number of circRNAs have been found aberrantly expressed in multiple diseases, including osteosarcoma. circRNA are capable of various biological functions including miRNA sponge, mediating alternatives, regulating genes at posttranscriptional levels, and interacting with proteins, indicating a pivotal role of circRNA in cancer initiation, progression, chemoresistance, and immune response. Moreover, circRNAs have been thrust into the spotlight as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in osteosarcoma. Herein, we briefly summarize the origin and biogenesis of circRNA with current knowledge of circRNA in tumorigenesis of osteosarcoma, aiming to elucidate the specific role and clinical implication of circRNAs in osteosarcoma. 1.circRNAs are capable of various biological functions including miRNA sponge, mediating alternatives, regulating genes at posttranscriptional levels, and interacting with proteins, indicating a pivotal role of circRNA in osteosarcoma initiation, progression, chemoresistance and immune response. 2.circRNAs have been thrust into the spotlight as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in osteosarcoma.