Abstract 5422: Identification of ZEB1-regulated circular RNAs in lung cancer cells

Abstract ZEB1 is a master transcription factor playing a crucial role in promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), as well as the progression and metastasis of lung cancer. The progression of lung cancer is regulated by non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs (circRNAs). In this study, we aimed to identify circRNAs under the regulation of ZEB1 and elucidate their functions within lung cancer cells. Through RNA sequencing and subsequent CIRI-full analysis in ZEB1-overexpressing lung cancer cells, we identified 25 circRNAs displaying differential expression compared to control cells. Among these circRNAs, we targeted circDennd1b, which showed down-regulation in ZEB1-overexpressing cells. We used siRNAs to target the back-splicing junction of circDennd1b, resulting in its knockdown and consequently promoting the invasion of lung cancer cells. Now, we are studying how circDennd1b affects the progression and metastasis of lung cancer. In summary, the circRNAs modulated by ZEB1 are anticipated to play a key role in the invasion, progression, and metastasis of lung cancer. Citation Format: Seongran Cho, Jin-A Choi, Young-Ho Ahn. Identification of ZEB1-regulated circular RNAs in lung cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 5422.