The novel circ_0084904/miR-802/MAL2 axis promotes the development of cervical cancer.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified as critical regulators in human cancers, including cervical cancer (CC). However, the precise action of circ_0084904 in cervical carcinogenesis remains to be elucidated. The levels of circ_0084904, microRNA (miR)-802, and Mal, T cell differentiation protein 2 (MAL2) were checked by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) or western blot. Ribonuclease R (RNase R) and subcellular localization assays were used to detect the stability and localization of circ_0084904, respectively. Cell colony formation ability was assessed by colony formation assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion abilities were gauged by transwell assay. Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were applied to determine the direct relationship between miR-802 and circ_0084904 or MAL2. The xenograft experiments were performed to evaluate the role of circ_0084904 in tumor growth in vivo. Circ_0084904 was markedly up-regulated in CC tissues and cell lines. Silencing endogenous circ_0084904 impeded cell colony formation, cell cycle progression, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and promoted apoptosis in vitro, as well as diminished tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, circ_0084904 targeted miR-802, and the effects of circ_0084904 silencing were mediated by miR-802. MAL2 was directly targeted and inhibited by miR-802, and MAL2 was a functional target of miR-802. Moreover, circ_0084904 modulated MAL2 expression via miR-802. Our study identified circ_0084904 as a novel oncogenic driver in CC depending on the modulation of the miR-802/MAL2 axis, establishing the notion that silencing of circ_0084904 might represent a promising targeted therapy for CC.