AUTHOR=Ma Tao , Ma Yue , Du Yongjun , Wei Zhongheng , Wang Jianchu , Jun Yufu , Xiao Fenqiang 

TITLE=RETRACTED: Circular RNA hsa_circ_0013958 Functions as an Oncogenic Gene Through Modulating miR-532-3p/WEE1 Axis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.585172

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2021.585172

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>circ0013958 was identified as a biomarker, which can be used for the diagnosis and screening of lung cancer. However, the role of circ0013958 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>In our study, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine the levels of circ0013958 in HCC tissues and cell lines. EdU, CCK-8, transwell, flow cytometry and tumorigenesis assays were applied to assess the functions of circ0013958 in HCC <italic>in vitro</italic> and <italic>in vivo</italic>. Western blot assay was to detect the expression of WEE1. Luciferase reporter assay, bioinformatics analysis and rescue experiments were used to examine the interaction among circ0013958, miR-532-3p and WEE1.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>It revealed that circ0013958 was significantly up-regulated in HCC, which was positively correlated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. Circ0013958 promoted HCC cell proliferation and invasion, inhibited cell apoptosis <italic>in vitro</italic>, and promoted tumorigenesis <italic>in vivo</italic>. Circ0013958 acted as a miR-532-3p sponge to regulate WEE1 expression, thus promoting the progression of HCC.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>Circ0013958 promotes HCC progression through miR-532-3p/WEE1 axis. Circ0013958 may serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target of HCC.</p></sec>