Aim: We aimed to identify circular RNAs (circRNAs) associated with breast cancer chemoresistance.
Materials & methods: CircRNA microarray expression profiles were obtained from Adriamycin (ADM) resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cells (MCF-7/ADM) and parental MCF-7 cells and were validated using quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR. The expression data were analyzed bioinformatically.
Results: We detected 3093 circRNAs and identified 18 circRNAs that are differentially expressed between MCF-7/ADM and MCF-7 cells; after validating by quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR, we predicted the possible miRNAs and potential target genes of the seven upregulated circRNAs using TargetScan and miRanda. The bioinformatics analysis revealed several target genes related to cancer-related signaling pathways. Additionally, we discovered a regulatory role of the circ_0006528-miR-7-5p-Raf1 axis in ADM-resistant breast cancer.
Conclusion: These results revealed that circRNAs may play a role in breast cancer chemoresistance and that hsa_circ_0006528 might be a promising candidate for further functional analysis.
Keywords: adriamycin; breast cancer; chemoresistance; circular RNA; microarray.