Novel circRNA hsa_circ_0000021 identified as key driver of cervical cancer progression

A groundbreaking study published in Current Molecular Pharmacology has uncovered the critical role of hsa_circ_0000021 in cervical cancer (CC) progression. Led by Dr. Yumei Lv and colleagues at the General Hospital of Western Theater Command, the research demonstrates that this circular RNA (circRNA) fuels tumor growth by acting as a molecular sponge for miR-3940-3p, thereby elevating KPNA2 expression—a known oncogene.

Using qRT-PCR and functional assays, the team found hsa_circ_0000021 significantly overexpressed in CC tissues and cell lines. Silencing it reduced tumor proliferation, invasion, and migration by up to 70%. "Our data reveal hsa_circ_0000021 as a master regulator in CC, driving malignancy through the miR-3940-3p/KPNA2 axis," Dr. Lv explained. Luciferase and RIP assays confirmed the direct binding between hsa_circ_0000021 and miR-3940-3p, while KPNA2 knockdown reversed oncogenic effects.