Circular RNA circ-Foxo3 inhibits esophageal squamous cell cancer progression via the miR-23a/PTEN axis.

Circ-Foxo3 is a circRNA encoded by the human FOXO3 gene and works as a sponge for potential microRNAs (miRNAs) to regulate cancer progression. However, the role of circ-Foxo3 in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) is not clear. In this study, circ-Foxo3 was lowly expressed in cell lines and ESCC tissues. Meanwhile, overexpression of circ-Foxo3 inhibited cell growth, migration, and invasion, whether in vivo or in vitro. Mechanically, we found a potential miRNA target, miR-23a, which negatively correlated with circ-Foxo3 in ESCC. Then, a luciferase assay confirmed the relationship between the circ-Foxo3 and miRNA. Moreover, circ-Foxo3 upregulation of PTEN occurred through "sponging" miR-23a. Taken together, these results indicated that the circ-Foxo3/miR-23a/PTEN pathway was critical for inhibiting the ESCC progression. This may provide a promising target for treat ESCC.