Circ_0078607 inhibits the progression of ovarian cancer via regulating the miR-32-5p/SIK1 network

BACKGROUND: Circular RNA (circRNA) has been shown to be involved in the regulation of human disease progression, including ovarian cancer (OC). Circ_0078607 was found to participate in OC progression. But its function and mechanism in OC deserve further exploration. METHODS: The expression levels of circ_0078607, salt-inducible kinase 1 (SIK1) and microRNA (miR)-32-5p were examined by qRT-PCR. And the protein expression levels of SIK1, metastasis marker and apoptosis marker were determined using western blot analysis. EDU staining, colony formation assay, transwell assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of cells. Moreover, dual-luciferase reporter assay was employed to verify the interaction between miR-32-5p and circ_0078607 or SIK1. Xenograft models were constructed to perform in vivo experiments. RESULTS: Circ_0078607 and SIK1 were downregulated in OC tissues and cells. Overexpressed circ_0078607 and SIK1 could inhibit OC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and promote apoptosis. MiR-32-5p could be sponged by circ_0078607, and its overexpression could reverse the suppressive effect of circ_0078607 on OC progression. Furthermore, SIK1 was a target of miR-32-5p, and circ_0078607 could regulate SIK1 by sponging miR-32-5p. The inhibitory effect of circ_0078607 on OC progression also could be reversed by SIK1 silencing. In vivo experiments showed that circ_0078607 reduced OC tumorigenesis by regulating the miR-32-5p/SIK1 axis. CONCLUSION: Circ_0078607 could serve as a sponge of miR-32-5p to regulate SIK1 expression, thereby inhibiting OC progression. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13048-021-00931-9.