Upregulated circRNA_102231 promotes gastric cancer progression and its clinical significance

Figures & data

Table 1. Correlation between circRNA_102231 expression and clinicopathological features in GC patients (n = 120)

Parameters	All cases	circRNA_102231 expression		P value
		Low (n = 60)	High (n = 60)
Gender
Male	75	40	35	0.346
Female	45	20	25
Age (years)
≤ 60	51	30	21	0.097
> 60	69	30	39
Tumor size
≤ 5	72	42	30	0.025
> 5	48	18	30
Lymph node metastasis
No	68	42	26	0.003
Yes	52	18	34
TNM stage
I–II	70	42	28	0.011
III–IV	50	18	32
Differentiation grade
Well/moderate	65	35	30	0.361
Poor	55	25	30

Figure 1. CircRNA_102231 is upregulated in GC. (a). qRT-PCR analysis of circRNA_102231 expression in paired GC and normal tissues. (b). The survival curve of GC patients based on median circRNA_102231 level in GC tissues. (c, d). qRT-PCR analysis of plasma circRNA_102231 expression, followed by ROC curve analyzing its diagnostic value. ***p< 0.001. ANT = adjacent normal tissue

Figure 2. Knockdown of circRNA_102231 inhibits GC progression. (a, b). qRT-PCR analyzing the knockdown efficiency of these siRNAs. (c–j). Colony formation, EdU, CCK-8 and Transwell assays in GC cells after circRNA_102231 knockdown. *p< 0.05, **p< 0.01

Figure 3. CircRNA_102231 interacts with IRTKS. (a, b). qRT-PCR analysis of the location of circRNA_102231. C. The top ten proteins pulled down by circRNA_102231. (d–f). qRT-PCR verifying the specificity and effectiveness of circRNA_102231 probe, followed by western blot assay. G, H. RIP assay testing the enrichment of circRNA_102231 by anti-IRTKS. **p< 0.01

Figure 4. CircRNA_102231 increases IRTKS protein stability. (a). qRT-PCR analysis of IRTKS mRNA level in circRNA_102231-silenced GC cell lines. (b, c). Western blot testing IRTKS protein in circRNA_102231-silenced GC cell lines. (d, e). Western blot testing the effect of circRNA_102231 on IRTKS protein stability. (f, g). Cell viability and invasion assay in circRNA_102231-silenced GC cell lines transfected with IRTKS-expressing vector. *p< 0.05, **p< 0.01

Figure 5. CircRNA_102231 depletion inhibits tumor growth. (a–c). Tumor image, volume and weight in control and circRNA_102231-silenced groups. (d, e). qRT-PCR and western blot assays analyzing circRNA_102231 and IRTKS protein level, respectively. **p< 0.01, ***p< 0.001