Hsa_circ_101882 promotes migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells by regulating EMT

BACKGROUND: At present, gastric cancer (GC) is a serious threat to human life and health. Non‐coding circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been found abnormal expression in multiple tumors. However, circRNAs remain largely unknown in tumor progression. In the present study, we mainly examined the expression, function, and molecular mechanisms of a new circRNAs (hsa_circ_101882) in GC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of hsa_circ_101882 in GC tissue, corresponding adjacent normal tissues, and GC cell lines was examined by RT‐PCR. The function of hsa_circ_101882 in GC was evaluated by MTT assay, cell migration, and invasion assay, colony formation assay, and flow cytometric assay. The effect of hsa_circ_101882 on epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐related gene expression was detected by RT‐PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: Hsa_circ_101882 expression levels were significantly increased in GC tissue and GC cell lines. Functionally, low expression of hsa_circ_101882 revealed anti‐tumor effects via inhibiting cell growth, migration, and invasion and promoting cell apoptosis. Mechanically, the dysregulated expression of hsa_circ_101882 affects EMT signaling pathway, which was examined by detecting E‐cadherin, N‐cadherin, vimentin, and Snail expression levels. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, our research reveals that hsa_circ_101882 is considered a metastasis promoter by activating EMT and may serve as a critical oncogene and potential new biomarker in GC.