Hsa_circ_0003098 promotes bladder cancer progression via miR-377-5p/ACAT2 axis

Accumulating evidence has proven that circRNAs play vital roles in tumor progression. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying circRNAs in bladder cancer (BCa) remain largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to identify the role and investigate the potential molecular mechanisms of hsa_circ_0003098 in BCa. We confirmed that hsa_circ_0003098 expression was significantly upregulated in BCa tissues, of which expression was remarkably associated with poor prognosis. Functionally, overexpression of hsa_circ_0003098 promoted BCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro as well as tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, hsa_circ_0003098 promoted upregulation of ACAT2 expression and induced cholesteryl ester accumulation via acting as a sponge for miR-377-5p. Thus, hsa_circ_0003098 plays an oncogenic role in BCa and may serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for BCa. •This study aimed to explore the role and potential molecular mechanisms of hsa_circ_0003098 in BCa.•We confirmed a significant upregulation of hsa_circ_0003098 expression in BCa tissues, which was notably linked to poor prognosis•Functionally, hsa_circ_0003098 overexpression enhanced BCa cell proliferation, migration, invasion in vitro and tumor growth in vivo.•Mechanistically, hsa_circ_0003098 promoted upregulation of ACAT2 expression and induced cholesteryl ester accumulation via acting as a sponge for miR-377-5p.•This article presents the somewhat novel concept of hsa_circ_0003098 regulating lipid metabolism to control BCa malignancy progression.