Figure 3.

The validated circRNA‐miRNA‐target gene axis. Upregulated circRNAs can promote tumor progression by sequestering tumor‐suppressor miRNAs because sequestration of these miRNAs alleviates the expression of oncogenic targets. Downregulated circRNAs may exert an anti‐tumoral effect when they sponge miRNAs that suppress tumor‐suppressor genes. SNCA, alpha‐synuclein; EGFR, Epidermal growth factor receptor; IRS2, Insulin receptor substrate 2; CCNE1, G1/S‐specific cyclin‐E1; PIK3CD, phosphoinositide 3‐kinase delta isoform; IL6R, Interleukin 6 receptor; DLX2, Distalless 2; AQP3, Aquaporin 3; TIMP3, Metalloproteinase inhibitor 3; FZD5, Frizzled‐5; P21, Cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor 1; CDK2, Cyclin‐dependent kinase 2; MMP2, Matrix metalloproteinase‐2; PCNA, Proliferating cell nuclear antigen